Babcock in Cooperation With Saab for the Swedish Navy's Future Surface Combatants

Babcock has been selected by Saab to support the design for the development of the Swedish Navy’s new Luleå-class Surface Combatant.

Saab, commissioned by FMV, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, will design four ships for the Swedish Navy.

Babcock will initially provide engineering support, including structural design and auxiliary systems, supporting Saab to complete the basic design phase.

During a visit to Babcock’s Rosyth facility in Scotland, senior representatives from the Swedish Navy, UK Royal Navy, FMV, Saab and Babcock met to mark the beginning of the ambitious new collaboration in naval programme delivery, which follows the Strategic Cooperation  Agreement signed by Saab and Babcock at DSEI in September 2023.

Babcock and Saab will also work closely together to identify potential export markets for the Luleå design.  

Mats Wicksell, Senior Vice President and Head of Business Area Kockums for Saab, said: “We are proud to take on the mission to start the basic design of the new Luleå-class for Sweden and happy to cooperate with Babcock in this project. This is an important collaboration between Swedish and British shipbuilders, and I am looking forward to a close teamwork to strengthen the Swedish capabilities at sea.”

David Lockwood, Babcock CEO, said: “This is a hugely important programme for the Swedish Navy, Saab and Babcock. Our collective capabilities in Karlskrona and Rosyth will ensure we deliver a class-leading design for the new Luleå platforms.”