Sweden needs 500 sailors for new warships

Sweden’s planned purchase of four advanced frigates will require recruiting 500 sailors and officers, Swedish public broadcaster SVT reports.

Defence Minister Pål Jonsson described the vessels as “powerful frigates capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.” The 122-metre ships, set for delivery from 2030, will each need a crew of up to 125, while Sweden’s existing five Visby-class corvettes—currently its largest combat vessels—will remain in service.

Linus Fast, a researcher at the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI), called staffing the biggest challenge. “The Visby corvettes already face recruitment difficulties with their 43-person crews,” he said. The new frigates will also demand fresh expertise, particularly in air defence systems.

Jimmie Adamsson, a naval officer, noted that younger personnel are drawn to the prospect of modernised roles. “The Visby corvettes are nearly 20 years old. New, exciting tasks and workplaces are needed.”

Each frigate will accommodate a helicopter for submarine hunting, sensor support, and medical evacuations, though procurement plans remain undecided. Future upgrades may include onboard drones—potentially helicopter-style, surface, or underwater variants.

The ships will also serve as high-value targets, requiring defences against mass drone attacks. Russia has deployed up to 1,000 drones in a single day against Ukraine, prompting Sweden to prepare for swarms. Close-in weapons like Trackfire—armed with machine guns or autocannons—will handle drones, while air-defence missiles focus on aircraft and larger threats.

Damage control is another priority. “A single drone breaching defences could cause localised damage, disabling nearby systems,” Fast said. “The key is restoring lost capabilities quickly.”

In a Baltic conflict, the frigates would support sea transport of supplies, reinforcements, fuel, ammunition, and wounded personnel.

France’s Naval Group will build the FDI-class (Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention) vessels, named the Luleå-class in Sweden: HMS Luleå, HMS Norrköping, HMS Halmstad, and HMS Trelleborg. The deal, valued at over SEK 10 billion per ship, follows Sweden’s first-choice selection this week.