Ukrainian Navy Adds CB90 Fast Boats Marking New Phase in Coastal and Riverine Warfare

Ukraine’s naval forces have taken delivery of Swedish-made CB90 fast assault craft, marking a significant capability boost for operations in contested riverine and coastal environments. As Russia continues to target Ukraine’s maritime infrastructure and inland waterways, the introduction of these high-speed boats signals a shift toward more agile and decentralized naval tactics.

CB90: A Proven Platform for Littoral Dominance

The CB90 (Combat Boat 90), developed by Sweden’s Dockstavarvet (now part of Saab), is a versatile fast assault craft originally designed for the Swedish Navy in the early 1990s. With over 250 units built and exported to countries including Norway, Greece, Mexico, Malaysia, the U.S., and now Ukraine, the platform has earned a reputation for speed, maneuverability, and modularity.

Key specifications of the standard CB90H model include:

• Length: ~15.9 meters
• Beam: ~3.8 meters
• Displacement: ~20 tons (fully loaded)
• Top speed: Over 40 knots (74 km/h)
• Range: Approx. 240 nautical miles at cruising speed
• Crew: Typically 2–4 plus up to 18 fully equipped troops

The boat features a shallow draft (~0.9 m), allowing it to operate effectively in rivers and coastal shallows — precisely the kind of environment prevalent along Ukraine’s Dnipro River system and Black Sea coastline.

Tactical Utility in Ukraine’s Operational Environment

The addition of CB90s comes at a critical time for Ukraine’s navy. Following Russia’s seizure of Crimea in 2014 and the full-scale invasion launched in February 2022, Ukraine lost most of its traditional naval assets based in Sevastopol. Since then, Kyiv has focused on asymmetric maritime capabilities — including uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), mobile missile teams using truck-mounted RBS-17/Brimstone systems, and now fast manned platforms like the CB90.

The operational advantages offered by the CB90 include:

• High-speed troop insertion/extraction: Ideal for special operations forces or rapid response units along contested riverbanks or occupied islands.
• Fire support: Depending on configuration, can mount heavy machine guns (12.7 mm), automatic grenade launchers (AGL), or even light autocannons.
• C4ISR integration: Modern variants are equipped with electro-optical sensors and encrypted comms systems suitable for networked operations.

This makes them well-suited for missions such as interdiction of Russian supply lines across rivers like the Dnipro or Southern Bug; raiding operations against enemy positions on islands such as Velykyi Potemkin or Tuzla Spit; or supporting drone swarm attacks from littoral staging areas.

Origin of Transfer Remains Unclear

The exact origin of these boats remains unconfirmed as of publication. While Sweden is known to operate over 100 CB90s across several variants — including upgraded versions like Strb-90HSM with enhanced sensors — it is unclear whether these were directly donated by Stockholm or sourced via third-party transfers through allied nations.

A September report from Swedish outlet SVT Nyheter hinted that surplus units may have been transferred quietly under bilateral agreements aligned with Sweden’s increasing military support to Ukraine following its NATO accession process. However, neither Saab nor Swedish defense officials have publicly confirmed this batch’s provenance.

The boats seen in Ukrainian service appear externally similar to earlier-generation CB90H models rather than newer HSM variants used by Sweden’s Amphibious Corps. Nonetheless, even legacy versions represent a leap forward compared to Ukraine’s pre-war patrol boat inventory.

A Broader Naval Reconstitution Strategy

The arrival of CB90s aligns with broader efforts to rebuild Ukraine’s navy into a distributed force capable of surviving under persistent Russian aerial surveillance and missile threat. This includes:

• Uncrewed Systems: Indigenous USVs such as “Sea Baby” have been used effectively against Russian ships near Sevastopol.
• Littoral Missile Forces: Mobile Neptune anti-ship missile batteries remain active along southern coasts despite repeated targeting attempts by Russian Kalibr strikes.
• NATO Integration: Training programs with UK Royal Navy under Operation Interflex have included small boat tactics relevant for platforms like the CB90.

This layered approach — combining manned fast boats like the CB90 with drones and shore-based fires — reflects lessons learned from conflicts such as Iraq’s riverine campaigns or U.S. brown-water ops during Vietnam but adapted to modern threats including loitering munitions and EW saturation zones.

Implications for Future Operations Against Russia

The ability to rapidly deploy troops across rivers or conduct hit-and-run raids on enemy logistics nodes gives Ukrainian forces new tactical options beyond static trench warfare. In particular:

• Dnieper Delta Operations: The Kherson region remains fluid; amphibious mobility could allow surprise flanking attacks against entrenched Russian positions on east-bank villages or islands.
• PsyOps & Presence Missions: High-speed incursions using visible platforms like the CB90 may serve psychological purposes — demonstrating reach into contested zones previously thought inaccessible post-dam destruction at Nova Kakhovka.
• Sustainment & Logistics Support: Smaller resupply runs via fast boats reduce exposure time compared to slower barges vulnerable to FPV drone strikes or artillery ambushes.

If properly maintained and integrated into joint command structures alongside UAV reconnaissance assets (e.g., PD-2 drones) and HIMARS fire direction cells, these boats could serve as key enablers in future counteroffensives involving complex terrain transitions between land-water interfaces.

A Platform With Upgrade Potential

The modularity of Saab’s Combat Boat series allows future upgrades depending on funding availability and mission evolution. Potential enhancements include:

• Sensors & Situational Awareness: Adding EO/IR turrets linked via secure datalinks would improve nighttime interdiction missions along foggy riverscapes common during autumn/winter months in southern Ukraine.
• Lethality Upgrades: Mounting stabilized remote weapon stations (RWS) like Kongsberg Protector or Rafael Mini-Typhoon could increase accuracy while reducing crew exposure during firefights near shorelines under drone threat conditions.
• C-UAS Integration: Installing soft-kill counter-drone systems such as jammers or directed-energy prototypes could help defend against Russian Lancet-style loitering munitions increasingly targeting mobile maritime assets near Ochakiv or Mykolaiv ports.

If Western partners provide sustainment packages — including spare parts pipelines via Poland/Romania — these boats could remain operationally relevant well into the late-2020s amid continued hybrid maritime conflict scenarios around Crimea’s periphery.