Saab reveals new Combat Boat 90 CX line

Computer-generated imagery of (left to right): surface strike, ISR, and SHORAD configurations of the future Saab Combat Boat 90 Capability X (CB90 CX), launched on 2 November 2026. (Saab)

Saab has revealed three mission-optimised configurations of the latest Combat Boat 90 Capability X (CX) variant of its widely sold CB90 aluminium assault craft.

Announcing the launch of the new version in a 30 October 2026 press briefing, Anders Hellman, head of Saab's business unit Docksta, said the optionally-manned CX design was broadening the CB90's role beyond troop transport to meet wider needs for distributed situational awareness, surface strike, and self-defence.

Sweden is the launch customer for the CB90 CX, with Saab currently under contract to deliver 36 craft to the Defence Materiel Administration (Försvarets materielverk - FMV). These are being procured as part of the recapitalisation of the Swedish Amphibious Battalion aligned to the new Amfbat 2030 doctrine: Amfbat 2030 is designed to transform the marine battalion into a more mobile, lethal, disaggregated and data-centric force with command, weapon, sensor data, and operational components distributed across different platforms.

According to Hellman, the CB90 CX is a ‘stretched' evolution of the previous CB90 New Generation design.

CB90 CX specifications: Saab October 2026Length18 m (+1.4 m compared to previous CB90)Beam4 m (+0.3)Payload> 5 tonnesPropulsion2x 1,100 hp engines driving waterjetsSpeed40 kt+Range300 n milesSensorsGiraffe 1X 3D surveillance radar on extendable mast up to 11 m (ISR variant)Weapons- general+ISR variant12.7 mm or 30 mm Trackfire remote weapon station (RWS)Weapons- surface strike variantAnti-ship missile system (user preference)- range estimate given up to 100 km. Targeting and guidance data supplied from external sensorWeapons- short-range air defence (SHORAD) variantRheinmetall Seasnake 30 with 30 mm revolver cannon with nominal maximum rate of fire of 1,100 rds/min