Sweden is targeting early 2026 for selecting a design partner for four new Luleå-class frigates, with France emerging as a leading contender. Defence Minister Pål Jonson confirmed the ambitious timeline during talks with French counterpart Catherine Vautrin in Stockholm, with deliveries planned for 2030-2035.
The US Navy aims to have new frigates based on an American design in the water by 2028, according to Jason Potter, the Navy's acting acquisition executive. The service plans to use a design approach that separates finalizing the ship's design from construction.
The U.S. Navy's decision to cancel 16 of 20 planned Constellation-class frigates represents a major setback for Fincantieri Marinette Marine and raises critical questions about the nation's maritime industrial base.