Шведские корветы-стелсы класса "Висбю"

Swedish stealth missile corvettes

The Visby class is a series of corvettes in use by the Swedish Navy. It is the latest class of corvette adopted by the navy after the and corvettes. Its design emphasizes low visibility radar cross section and infrared signature, and the class has received widespread international attention because of its capabilities as a stealth ship. The first ship in the class is named after Visby, the main city on the island of Gotland. The Visby ships are designed by Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and built by Saab Kockums AB in Karlskrona. The first ship of the class was launched in 2000, but production then suffered repeated delays. The fifth and final ship was delivered in 2015.

The hull is constructed with a sandwich design consisting of a PVC core with a carbon fibre and vinyl laminate (see also the Oceanic Creations spin off). There are multiple advantages to using composite materials in ship hulls. Good conductivity and surface flatness mean a low radar signature, while good heat insulation lowers the infrared signature and increases survivability in case of fire. The composite sandwich used is also non magnetic, which lowers the magnetic signature. Composites are also very strong for their relative weight, and less weight means a higher top speed and better maneuverability. The composite weighs roughly 50% less than the equivalent strength steel. Visbys angular tumblehome design reduces its radar signature. Jan Nilsson, one of the designers, told BBC News Online: "We are able to reduce the radar cross section by 99%. That doesn't mean it's 99% invisible, it means that we have reduced its detection range." The two ships, K32 and K33, were delivered with underwater and surface/air sensors fully integrated. However, the only weapon that had been integrated and test fired on the ships was still the Bofors 57 Mk3 gun, FMV calls this version 4. Version 5 supplemented the ships with mine clearance systems, helicopter landing capability, anti surface ship missiles, and additional stealth adaptation. Visby was the first of the corvettes to be upgraded to Version 5. On 22 March 2012 FMV reported that the ship had been modified and that the system would be tested before reentering the Swedish Navy by the end of 2012. Although the design of the ships originally called for the installation of surface to air missiles, on 18 September 2008 the Genomförandegruppen cancelled the project to rationalize the procurement of defence materiel for the Swedish defence.

In January 2021 Saab and the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) signed a contract for the mid life upgrade of the five Visby corvettes. The MLU will include the installation of surface to air missiles, the implementation of upgraded anti ship missiles and anti submarine torpedoes, improved sensors and enhanced electronic warfare capabilities. The upgrade of all five ships will be completed before 2030 and the MLU aims to keep the Visby corvettes operationally relevant beyond 2040. To be fitted with CAMM surface to air missiles.

In January 2021 FMV and SAAB also signed an agreement for the product definition phase of the Visby Generation 2 corvettes. The new corvettes were to be equipped with modern anti ship missiles, surface to air missiles and anti submarine torpedoes. Four Visby Gen 2 corvettes would be built with the first two ships scheduled for delivery to the Swedish Navy around the year 2030 with the latter two ships being delivered sometime between 2031 and 2035. Rear admiral Ewa Skoog Haslum stated that the Visby generation 2 corvettes would be larger than the current Visby corvettes, with increased range and crew complement being the main reasons for this change. In 2021, an order was placed for the development of this second generation of evolved Visby corvettes. On 1 November 2022, the Supreme Commander of the Swedish armed forces, general Micael Bydén published his recommendations for how the armed forces should grow over the coming years at the request of the Swedish government. This included the recommendation that the Visby Gen 2 corvettes should be equipped with longer range surface to air missiles than those which will be used on the "Visby Gen 1" in order for the ships to be able to act as part of NATO integrated air and missile defences. Further recommendations included modifications to the ships to increase their interoperability with both NATO's standing maritime groups and the Joint Expeditionary Force.