The Swedish fleet will receive a new generation of corvettes. Yesterday, on September 6, the press service of the Swedish Defense Material Supply Department (FMV) announced the start of work on ships with the working name Visby Generation II.
As previously reported, the main contractor will be Saab, which in February announced the signing of a contract with the Swedish Defense Ministry for the development of a new generation of Visby-type ships. It is planned that despite the small size, the new corvettes will be equipped with modern anti-ship systems, torpedoes, as well as an air defense system.
Visby-type corvette
Image source: fmv.se
"The so-called product definition phase has begun, during which it will be determined how the ships should be built, as well as a fixed price offer for the production of four units. The working name of the new combat surface ships is the second generation of Visby, which is due to the fact that they are largely based on the Visby corvettes that are used in the armed forces today," the FMV press service reported.
Visby-type ships are corvettes built using the technology of reduced radar visibility. The length of each of the ships is less than 73 m, the displacement is 640 tons. Despite its relatively small size, the ship carries a 57-mm Bofors SAK 57 Mk3 cannon, as well as powerful torpedo and missile weapons. In addition, the corvette is equipped with a flight deck for a light helicopter or drone.
