Sweden’s Largest Military Aid Package to Ukraine: Strategic Impact of CB90 Combat Boats.

According to information published by the Swedish government on January 30, 2025, Sweden’s decision to provide Ukraine with its largest military aid package to date, including 16 additional Combat Boat 90s (CB90s), represents a strategic enhancement of Ukraine’s maritime and riverine capabilities.
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Sweden doubles its donation of CB90 combat boats to Ukraine, strengthening its riverine and coastal warfare capabilities in the fight against Russian forces. (Picture source: Saab)

By doubling the previous donation of these high-speed assault craft, Sweden is reinforcing Ukraine’s ability to conduct operations in contested waterways, a domain that has become increasingly significant in the war against Russia. The addition of these vessels will improve Ukraine’s mobility, special operations capabilities, and ability to disrupt Russian supply lines along rivers and coastal areas.

The CB90, originally developed by Swedish shipbuilder Dockstavarvet, is a highly maneuverable, shallow-draft vessel designed for fast-paced naval operations. Its aluminum hull, combined with twin waterjet propulsion, allows it to achieve speeds exceeding 40 knots while maintaining excellent agility in confined or shallow waters. This capability makes it particularly well-suited for riverine and littoral warfare, where traditional naval vessels struggle to operate effectively. The boat’s design prioritizes rapid deployment, making it a valuable asset for inserting and extracting troops, transporting equipment, and providing fire support in dynamic combat environments. It is also equipped with multiple weapons mounts, supporting machine guns, grenade launchers, and modular configurations for additional armament, such as anti-tank or air-defense systems.

The operational environment in Ukraine necessitates such capabilities, particularly along the Dnieper River, which has become a key battleground. The river serves as both a natural barrier and a critical supply route, with Russian forces using occupied sections for logistics and troop movements. By deploying additional CB90s, Ukraine will be able to conduct rapid interdiction operations, ambush enemy convoys, and insert special forces for sabotage missions behind enemy lines. These boats will also enhance the mobility of Ukrainian forces in counter-offensive operations, allowing them to quickly seize and secure strategic river crossings and islands. Given the extensive use of drone reconnaissance and precision strikes in the conflict, the ability to reposition forces at high speed will be an essential tactical advantage.

Beyond the Dnieper and its tributaries, Ukraine’s control of the Black Sea coastline remains a contested issue. Despite having lost much of its conventional naval fleet, Ukraine has adapted through asymmetric warfare, using maritime drones, missiles, and special operations to weaken the Russian Black Sea Fleet. The addition of CB90s enhances Ukraine’s ability to conduct raids, evacuate personnel under fire, and support amphibious operations. These vessels could also be integrated into combined operations with naval drones and missile-armed units, creating a hybrid force capable of challenging Russian dominance at sea. The fast insertion capability of these boats will be particularly useful for Ukrainian special forces, who have already demonstrated their ability to conduct covert operations in occupied Crimea and along Russia’s coastal installations.

The broader impact of Sweden’s military aid package extends beyond the immediate tactical benefits. The CB90s symbolize a growing trend of Western military assistance adapting to the realities of modern warfare, where mobility, flexibility, and the ability to operate in multiple domains are becoming as crucial as heavy weaponry. Sweden’s decision to provide these boats suggests an increasing emphasis on supporting Ukraine’s ability to conduct unconventional operations, rather than just reinforcing static defenses.