The Swedish arms procurement agency has contracted Finnish boat builder Marine Alutech to deliver a fleet of 20 Watercat M9 vessels, replacing older models that were supplied to Ukraine. The contract, totaling 130 million Swedish krona ($14 million), ensures the continued mobility and capability of Sweden’s amphibious battalions.
Delivery of these new vessels will commence with an initial pre-series boat, with the remainder arriving in batches until 2028. The Watercat M9 is designed for the transport of up to eight soldiers plus two crew or small quantities of equipment, supporting battalion operations at bases and within deployment areas.
With a low draft of around 40 centimeters, the M9 watercraft can operate in environments as shallow as one meter, making them exceptionally suited for missions in rivers and along coastlines. Their updated design provides improved operational capabilities over the M8, which they are replacing.
Propelled by a diesel-powered water jet, the Watercat M9 achieves speeds exceeding 30 knots (34.5 mph/55.5 km/h) at full capacity, ensuring quick movement for personnel and cargo in critical Swedish armed forces missions.Here are two detailed rewrites of the news passage for a news website:
