Euronaval 2026 – Saab unveils its new Combat Boat 90 CX

Considering current scenarios Saab Naval decided to increase the capabilities of the Combat Boat 90, which is in service with the Royal Swedish Navy, and has obtained considerable success being also in service with seven more countries, Greece, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Ukraine and the United States. At Euronaval the company unveiled its new Combat Boat CX, a vessel with considerably improved capabilities compared to its predecessor

“Since we first delivered the first Combat Boat in 1989, we have continuously evolved this and now taken this step where we build a larger platform, the Combat Boat 90 CX. We have taken a proven concept as the CB 90NG and built further on that. Why did we do that? Because we can put more payload, more sensors. We also have a boat that is much safer to operate; it is classed according to DNV (Det Norske Veritas [1]), High Speed Light Craft, Patrol (S) EO R2, meaning it can operate freely 50 nautical miles from safe harbour or anchorage, and 100 nautical miles during summertime. This allows the boat to move freely within the Baltic Sea,” Anders Hellman, for 12 years head of Business Unit Doxsta [2] within Saab Naval, told EDR On-Line.

In the new CB90 CX the “C” stands for capabilities, which are considerably improved, while the “X” means the variety of capabilities the new vessel has.

Here under readers can find a table comparing the new CB 90CX to the previous CB 90NG (Stridsbåt 90 H Skyddad Moderniserad, Strb 90 HSM in short, or Combat Boat 90 H Skyddad Modernized for the Swedish Navy).

No information was provided on displacement. Payload has considerably improved, around 2 tonnes more, which means an increase of around 50% from 4 to 6 tonnes approximately, volume also being greater. However, the number of personnel on board has decreased considerably, from zero to 10 versus three plus 18 to 21; zero means that the new CB 90CX is an optionally crewed boat, designed to become an unmanned vessel, as for the maximum number of personnel this shows well that the new boat is not meant to be a personnel carrier, which was one of the main missions of the original CB 90, the increased payload allowing to embark more sensors and effectors, and eventually fuel to increase the range. 

The powerplant is based on two V8 Scania 16-litrediesel engines providing 1,100 hp each, which activate two Kongsberg S3 series waterjets.

“We are focusing on capabilities and, moreover, distributed capabilities. It is all about situational awareness. In the centre is the SeaGiraffe 1X, the surveillance radar, which is installed on a foldable mast, which can reach a height of 11 meters above sea level at full height,” Anders Hellman explained. With the radar can operate at 4 metres height while the boat navigates at high speed, while when raised at 11 meters it can operate providing a longer range, but with the boat at a much lower speed, under 10 knots, EDR On-Line understood.

The above-mentioned radar is installed on the multi-domain situational awareness variant, the X-band 3D surveillance radar providing a 360° coverage with 1 Hz repetition and a detection range of over 100 km and is fitted on a two-arm articulated mast. In this variant the boat is equipped with a Saab Trackfire remote weapon station, which can be armed either with a 12.7×99 mm heavy machine gun or a 30×113 mm cannon, the latter providing a much greater C-UAS capability using airburst munitions.

During the presentation a second version was shown, defined Over-the-horizon surface strike. Here the radar is replaced by two MBDA Marte ER antiship missiles, fitted at the rear of the superstructure. The launchers are mounted on the superstructure with an elevation of around 30° with a similar offset angle with the boat longitudinal axis of around, the boat retaining the Trackfire RCWS.

The third variant shown by Saab is the short-range air defence. Here the top of the superstructure hosts a Rheinmetall SeaSnake 30 armed with a KCE-30 30×173 mm gun, capable to fire airbust munitions of the KETF family. In this case the gun system replaces the Trackfire. Another possible variant might see the CV 90CX fitted with Saab’s Nimbrix VSHORAD/C-UAS missile system, which might operate in synergy with the Seasnake gun version, generating a layered VSHORAD defensive bubble.

All CB 90CX boats are fitted with the company 9LV naval combat system, or to be more precise with the 9LV Light, specifically designed for small boats. At Euronaval Saab launched the next generation of its 9LV naval combat system. All the aforementioned versions are also fitted with electronic warfare capabilities.

As seen, the CB 90CX is a boat conceived to deliver effects from the boat rather than carrying troops, EDR On-Line understanding that a troop carrier version might well see the light, however the number of personnel to be transported has not yet been finalised.

In June 2024 Saab announced an order from the Swedish FMV for 10 CB90, which was followed by another order for 22 Next-Gen CB90 combat boats. Although not mentioned specifically in the press releases, these were both aimed at the acquisition of CB 90CX, no details on the type of variant being disclosed, Saab announcing however that the first boat is already afloat, delivery date to be announced by customer.

Reducing delivery time is one of the current issues in al defence domains. “We are currently building a completely new facility in Docksta. So, we will more than double our production output in the coming years to meet anticipated demand,” Anders Hellman told EDR On-Line. Since the launch of the very first version the aluminium-made CB 90 was produced in modules, sections being manufactured and partly fitted on single workstations before being assembled, a system used for example in the car industry. Saab is continuing refining the production process to reduce lead time while maintaining or even improving quality.

As said previously, the CB 90CX has been designed since inception with the option of being unmanned. The customer can therefore choose to have his boats manned or operated from shore without crew, which gives another dimension of mission flexibility as being fully digital boats they can easily integrate autonomy packages. Saab is currently accelerating its work on artificial intelligence (AI) based agents, EDR On-Line understanding that AI Commanders agents have already been tested on board existing boats. Introducing AI agents to assist operators during their mission at sea might happen relatively soon.

[1] DNV is an independent, autonomous foundation and global quality assurance and risk management company based in Norway.

[2] On December 29^th, 2017, Saab acquired the Swedish combat boat producer N. Sundin Dockstavarvet AB and the repair shipyard Muskövarvet AB, in order to strengthen Saab’s product offering in the naval domain, the former becoming BU Docksta within Saab Naval.

Images courtesy Saab