Sweden plans to buy navy frigates from France

STOCKHOLM, May 19 (Reuters) - ​Sweden said on Tuesday it had chosen France's ​Naval ‌Group to supply four new frigates ⁠for its navy, with the ⁠first delivery expected ​in 2030in what will be the Nordic country's biggest military investment in decades.

The government ​has ‌requested that several weapons systems developed in Sweden, including by Saab, can be utilised by the vessels, Defence ​Minister Pal Jonson told a press conference.

Sweden ‌is racing to build up its military in the ‌wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the Nordic country's subsequent accession to NATO, ​with the new frigates representing a significant expansion of ‌maritime defence capabilities.

The right-wing government, one of Ukraine's staunchest backers in Europe, has ⁠said ⁠it expects to reach ‌NATO targets for military spending of 3.5% of GDP ​already ​in 2030, several years ahead ‌of the alliance's deadline. (Reporting by Johan Ahlander and Soren Jeppesen, editing by Terje Solsvik and Essi Lehto)

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