Swedish defense company Saab has been awarded a contract by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to integrate the Sea Ceptor air defence system—developed by MBDA—into the Swedish Navy’s five Visby-class corvettes. The contract, valued at approximately SEK 1.6 billion, aims to significantly enhance Sweden’s maritime air defense capabilities and contribute to NATO’s collective security.
This modernization initiative is part of FMV’s long-term plan to maintain and upgrade the Visby-class corvettes, ensuring they remain highly capable platforms in multi-domain operations. The addition of the Sea Ceptor system will extend the corvettes’ defensive reach, enabling them to engage airborne threats at longer ranges and protect larger operational areas compared to current systems.
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“This modification strengthens both Sweden’s and NATO’s air and missile defence by increasing the Swedish Armed Forces’ operational capability and ability to operate across the entire conflict spectrum,” said Mats Wicksell, Head of Saab’s Business Area Kockums. “With the air defence system on board, the Visby-class corvettes will continue to be a vital platform for many years to come.”
FMV has previously placed an order with MBDA for the Sea Ceptor systems. Saab will begin the modification and integration work on the Visby-class corvettes in early 2026, further reinforcing Sweden’s position as a key contributor to NATO’s regional defense infrastructure.
