Saab has unveiled the CB90 Capability X, an optionally crewed combat boat developed to provide enhanced maritime surveillance, anti-ship strike and short-range air-defence capabilities. Based on the established CB90 fast assault craft, which entered Swedish service in the early 1990s, the new platform offers three specialised configurations for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, anti-ship warfare and short-range air defence. More than 300 boats from the CB90 family are operated by nine navies, including Ukraine. The CB90 CX features an 18-metre hull, extending the original design by 1.4 metres to accommodate additional payloads and upgraded onboard systems while retaining the characteristics of earlier troop-carrying models. Sweden will become the first operator, deploying the platform alongside its smaller CB90 NG boats. The country has ordered 36 CB90 vessels through contracts awarded since 2024, with an average reported price of more than 40 million Swedish kronor ($4 million), depending on configuration and equipment. Production for Sweden is already underway, although Saab has not announced delivery dates. The acquisition supports the Amfbat 2030 doctrine, which aims to transform Sweden’s amphibious battalions into a more mobile, dispersed and digitally connected force. The ISR configuration uses Saab’s Giraffe 1X radar, while the anti-ship variant integrates MBDA’s MARTE ER missiles for over-the-horizon attacks against surface targets. The SHORAD configuration features Rheinmetall’s SeaSnake 30 remotely operated naval gun, designed to engage drones, helicopters and loitering munitions. The 30mm weapon can fire up to 1,100 rounds per minute and includes electro-optical and infrared sensors, a laser rangefinder, automatic target detection and multi-target tracking. Programmable airburst ammunition provides an additional capability against aerial threats. Sweden ordered its first eight SeaSnake 30 systems in February 2026, with initial deliveries expected in February 2028. The three boat configurations can work independently or in coordinated formations, offering complementary maritime surveillance, surface engagement and air-defence capabilities.
