HELSINKI, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- Sweden on Monday announced the purchase of four French-built air-defense frigates as it signed a framework agreement with France to deepen bilateral defense cooperation, the Swedish government said.
The procurement contract was signed aboard the French frigate Amiral Ronarc'h in Stockholm by the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration and French shipbuilder Naval Group, at a ceremony attended by French President Emmanuel Macron and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
"Our cooperation shows that leading European defense powers are able to meet their own national needs with shared industrial capabilities," Kristersson said, noting that it would deepen the strategic partnership between Sweden and France.
The frigate deal is worth about 4.3 billion euros (4.99 billion U.S. dollars), Swedish Television (SVT) reported. The first frigate is scheduled for delivery in 2030, with the remaining three to follow subsequently.
The Swedish government said the purchase would provide "a long-term and substantial reinforcement" of the country's naval forces and its ability to maintain control at sea, highlighting advanced air-defense capability as particularly important.
The frigates will also have advanced anti-submarine capabilities and be able to protect maritime transport and keep sea lanes open, according to the government.
Sweden and France also signed a framework agreement on Monday aimed at establishing a long-term strategic platform for defense cooperation between the two countries. The agreement covers security policy and operational cooperation, as well as defense procurement and industrial development.
The agreement comes as the two NATO allies have been expanding defense ties in several areas. France is set to contribute troops to NATO's Swedish-led Forward Land Forces Finland. France has also ordered two GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft from Swedish defense company Saab, while Sweden and France have opened a bilateral strategic dialogue on France's nuclear deterrence. ■