Sweden orders replacement fast landing craft for amphibious battalion
Marine Alutech's Watercat M9 fast landing craft, based on the Watercat M8 design used by Sweden, Finland, and Germany. (Marine Alutech)
Finnish shipyard Marine Alutech Oy Ab has been contracted to build 20 new 9.5 m aluminium-hulled Watercat M9 fast landing craft for the Swedish Amphibious Battalion.
Announced by Sweden's Defence Materiel Administration (Försvarets materielverk: FMV) on 18 September, the SEK130 million (USD13.9 million) order covers the replacement of Watercat M8 craft previously gifted to Ukraine.
Marine Alutech will deliver a first pre-series Watercat M9 boat to the FMV for test and evaluation. This will be followed by 19 series production craft, with deliveries to complete in 2028.
The Watercat M9, which will be used by amphibious regiments to transport personnel and equipment between their bases and areas of operation and base areas, evolved from the legacy M8 to meet the changing needs of the Amphibious Battalion.
Capable of speeds in excess of 30 kt at full load, the shallow-draft Watercat M9 design is operated by a crew of two, and can carry up to eight passengers in saddle-type seats mounted in front of the steering console. Alternatively, cargo loads can be carried instead of personnel.
For more information, please see German parliamentary committee approves new special forces boats, communications for German Navy .
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