Saab and Britain’s Babcock are promoting the Arrowhead 120 frigate as a candidate for the Swedish Navy’s future surface ship program, which will lead to the Luleå class.
The joint design aims to meet Sweden’s requirements for operations in the Baltic Sea, North Sea and Arctic regions and highlights the project’s resilience and versatility in the face of new maritime threats.
The vessel, approximately 120 meters long, was designed with a focus on air defense and anti-submarine warfare, and features a modular architecture that allows modifications throughout its lifetime. Babcock decided not to make a separate bid for FMV and focused its efforts exclusively on the partnership with Saab.
The project includes a flight deck and hangar capable of operating medium naval helicopters and unmanned rotorcraft, enhancing the frigate’s capabilities in maritime surveillance, escort and anti-submarine warfare missions. Saab emphasizes that aeronautical and operational flexibility is one of the pillars of the design, which ensures durability in long-duration missions.
The Swedish program envisages the acquisition of four new frigates and also includes competition from the French company Naval Group and Spain’s Navantia. The collaboration between Saab and Babcock reflects the already established industrial relationship between Sweden and the UK, and if selected, the Arrowhead 120 will become part of one of the most significant modernization processes for the country’s navy in decades.
Source: UK Defence Journal | Photo: X @NavyLookout | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
.@Saab in partnership with @Babcockplc will offer the Arrowhead 120 frigate design for the 🇸🇪Swedish Luleå class frigate competition. (More details to follow next week)
The A-120 was originally developed for the UK Type 31 competition in 2017, but Babcock successfully pitched… pic.twitter.com/Y7NVA4or5D
— Navy Lookout (@NavyLookout) February 8, 2026
