Among the guests at the ceremony were the Commander of the Swedish Navy, Rear admiral Ewa Skoog-Haslum and the Director general of Försvarets radioanstalt (FRA, National Defence Radio Establishment), Björn Lyrval, who performed the christening. Artemis became part of the 1st Submarine Flotilla in Karlskrona.
HMS Artemis (A202) is a Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) ship designed for the Swedish Navy. The vessel replaced its predecessor, the 40-year-old HMS Orion (A 201). The new ship is superior in every aspect. Is larger (3,000 vs. 1,400 tons of displacement and 76.4 vs. 61.2 meters of length), more comfortable and, above all, modernly equipped. This is noticeable both to the crew and to the FRA personnel who conduct intelligence work themselves. The cabins, dining room, gym and work areas on board meet modern standards, which is important during a long deployment at sea. At the same time, it is the largest Swedish warship built since the Halland-class destroyers of the 1950s (3,400 tons).
HMS Artemis SIGINT vessel was built within the scope of Project B104 under a contract signed between Saab and the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) on April 26, 2017. The conceptual design, including special equipment, was made by FMV and Saab Kockums. The technical and detailed designs were developed by the Polish bureau MMC Ship Design & Marine Consulting.
The Swedish company outsourced the construction of the ship’s platform to the Polish Stocznia Remontowa “Nauta” in Gdynia. “Nauta” was responsible for the construction of the platform, its equipment and mechanisms, and the execution of HAT (Harbour Acceptance Trials) and SAT (Sea Acceptance Trials). The SAT was to complete the Polish phase of the program, after which the vessel on its own was to move to Saab Kockums in Karlskrona, to receive special equipment.
“Nauta” has outsourced the production of the hull to another subcontractor – PGZ Stocznia Wojenna in Gdynia. Steel cutting began on March 1, 2018, and on June 15 the keel of the vessel was laid. Ship was launched on April 17, 2019, after which the its hull was towed to “Nauta”.
Unfortunately, as a result of “Nauta’s” financial problems, the construction process was interrupted, and the unfinished Artemis left Gdynia on February 15, 2021 on a tow, and arrived at the Saab Kockums shipyard in Karlskrona the following day. On November 2, 2022, the ship began sea trials in the Karlskrona area. Following their completion, Saab Kockums delivered the vessel to the FMV in April 2023. On November 15, 2023, in Karlskrona, the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration handed over HMS Artemis to the Swedish Armed Forces. As a result, personnel training began. During this period, new electronic systems antennas were fitted on the superstructure and mast of the ship. Unfortunately, details of Artemis’ equipment are classified.
Artemis has a length of 76.4 m, a width of 14.0 m, a displacement of about 3,000 tons, diesel-electric propulsion with four generator sets of 990 kW each and two main azimuthal thrusters, providing a speed of about 14 knots. There are two bow thrusters to improve maneuverability. There are 35 single and double cabins with sanitary facilities, with 40 berths for the crew and mission systems operators.
The Artemis design was used to develop its variant, on the basis of which two similar vessels of Project 107, under the codename Delfin (Dolphin), are being built for the Polish Navy.
