Saab and the British company Babcock are promoting the Arrowhead 120 frigate as a candidate for the Swedish Navy’s future surface ship program, which will give rise to the Luleå class.
The joint proposal aims to meet Swedish requirements for operations in the Baltic Sea, North Sea and Arctic regions, highlighting the project’s autonomy and versatility in the face of emerging maritime threats.
Approximately 120 meters long, the ship was designed with a focus on air defense and anti-submarine warfare, and features a modular architecture allowing for adaptations throughout its service life. Babcock chose not to submit an independent proposal to FMV, focusing its efforts exclusively on the partnership with Saab.
The project includes a flight deck and hangar capable of accommodating medium naval helicopters and unmanned rotary wing aircraft, enhancing the frigate’s capabilities in maritime surveillance, escort and submarine hunting missions. Saab emphasizes that aerial and operational flexibility constitutes one of the pillars of the proposal, guaranteeing endurance during prolonged missions.
The Swedish program provides for the acquisition of four new frigates and also includes competition from the Naval Group, in France, and Navantia, in Spain. The cooperation between Saab and Babcock reflects an already established industrial relationship between Sweden and the United Kingdom and, if selected, the Arrowhead 120 will integrate one of the country’s most significant naval modernization processes in recent 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
