Fast autonomous combat boat packs missile-firing power at speeds over 45 mph

Swedish defense company Saab has unveiled the CB90 Capability X (CB90 CX), an optionally crewed combat boat designed for a wider range of naval warfare missions. The 18-meter vessel can operate with a crew, remotely or autonomously, and is intended for reconnaissance, anti-ship warfare, and short-range air defense. It offers more than 50 percent greater payload capacity than the CB90 Next Generation and can reach speeds exceeding 40 knots. Sweden will be the launch customer, with the new boats expected to complement the Swedish Navy’s existing CB90 fleet. Autonomous combat boat Saab has introduced a larger, optionally crewed version of its Combat Boat 90 (CB90), combining autonomous operation with weapons and surveillance systems for different naval missions. Designated the CB90 Capability X (CB90 CX), the 18-meter (59-foot) vessel can operate with personnel onboard, remotely or autonomously. It is designed to support intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), anti-ship warfare, and short-range air defense. The new platform was unveiled ahead of the Euronaval 2026 defense exhibition in Paris. Its design builds on Saab’s Autonomous Ocean Core, a system intended to support autonomous vessel operations. The CB90 CX is 18 meters (59 feet) long and 4 meters (13 feet) wide, making it larger than the CB90 Next Generation (CB90 NG). Its expanded hull provides more than 50 percent greater payload capacity, increasing the figure from approximately 3 metric tons to more than 5 metric tons. According to Saab, the additional capacity allows the vessel to accommodate different mission-specific equipment and weapons. Rather than being restricted to a single operational role, the CB90 CX can be configured with different sensor and weapon systems depending on the requirements of a naval force. Propulsion comes from two 1,100-horsepower engines connected to waterjets. The arrangement allows the vessel to reach speeds exceeding 40 knots (46 mph) when fully loaded. Saab reports a range of more than 300 nautical miles at approximately 40 knots. The boat can also accommodate up to 10 personnel, depending on its configuration. Expands naval firepower Saab plans to offer the CB90 CX in three primary configurations, each equipped with different sensors and weapons to support specific maritime operations. The ISR configuration is fitted with Saab’s Sea Giraffe 1X radar, which provides 360-degree coverage of air and surface targets. The radar can reportedly detect targets at distances exceeding 100 kilometers (62 miles), giving operators a wider view of surrounding maritime activity. The anti-ship configuration is designed to carry MBDA’s MARTE ER anti-ship missiles. Equipped with active radar seekers, the missiles can engage surface vessels beyond the radar horizon and have a reported range exceeding 100 kilometers. This gives the relatively small combat boat a stand-off engagement capability against larger surface vessels. For short-range air defense, Saab is offering a configuration equipped with Rheinmetall’s SeaSnake 30 remotely operated weapon station. The system features a 30 mm automatic cannon, supported by sensors and a fire control system designed to engage aerial threats such as drones, helicopters and loitering munitions. The three configurations allow naval forces to select different combinations of surveillance and combat equipment without requiring a completely different vessel for each mission. This approach also reflects Saab’s effort to distribute combat capabilities across smaller naval platforms rather than concentrate them exclusively on larger warships. Sweden is the launch customer for the CB90 CX, which is already in production. Saab has not disclosed a delivery timeline for the new vessels. The boats are expected to operate alongside the Swedish Navy’s existing CB90 NG fleet, adding autonomous and remotely operated capabilities to its existing fast assault craft operations. The CB90 family is already used by nine navies across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. At 18 meters long, the CB90 CX represents a significant expansion of the platform’s original troop-transport role. Its combination of autonomous operation, increased payload capacity, long-range surveillance and interchangeable weapons configurations is intended to give naval forces more flexibility in deploying smaller combat vessels. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Jijo is an automotive and business journalist based in India. Armed with a BA in History (Honors) from St. Stephen's College, Delhi University, and a PG diploma in Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi, he has worked for news agencies, national newspapers, and automotive magazines. In his spare time, he likes to go off-roading, engage in political discourse, travel, and teach languages.