Formoza enters a new operational era with CB90 fast assault craft

Poland’s naval special operations unit Formoza has begun the initial operational phase with newly acquired Swedish Stridsbåt 90H fast assault craft, widely known as CB90. The introduction of this platform marks one of the most relevant capability upgrades for Poland’s maritime special operations forces in recent years, particularly in the context of Baltic littoral warfare, critical infrastructure protection and rapid-response maritime security missions.

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01 may 2026   |   18:56   |   Source: Gazeta Morska   |   Prepared by: Kamil Kusier   |   Print

fot. DKWS / DGRSZ

The acquisition is far from symbolic. Designed and produced in Sweden for high-speed military operations in archipelagic and coastal environments, the CB90 has long been regarded as a benchmark platform for navies and special operations units operating in shallow, infrastructure-dense and weather-demanding maritime theatres.

These characteristics closely match the operational realities of the Baltic Sea.

A platform built for high-speed maritime operations

The Stridsbåt 90H is a lightweight aluminium fast assault craft optimised for troop insertion, boarding operations, coastal interdiction and rapid littoral mobility. The vessel can exceed 40 knots, operates with a shallow draft and uses waterjet propulsion, enabling exceptional manoeuvrability, rapid acceleration, hard braking capability and operations in confined or shallow waters inaccessible to larger patrol platforms.

A defining feature is the bow ramp, allowing rapid deployment of operators directly onto beaches, piers, breakwaters or other austere landing points.

For Formoza, this significantly expands mission flexibility across several operational areas:

• special operations insertion and extraction,
• visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS),
• maritime counterterrorism,
• harbour and offshore infrastructure protection,
• coastal interdiction and force protection missions.

Initial training phase focused on platform integration

While official details regarding the first exercises remain limited, the current phase is likely centred on crew familiarisation and tactical integration.

A standard CB90 induction cycle typically includes:

• high-speed vessel handling and manoeuvring,
• port and confined-water navigation,
• emergency procedures and propulsion failure drills,
• beach landing and rapid disembarkation using the bow ramp,
• night operations under low-signature conditions and NVG procedures.

The next phase will likely involve tactical integration with broader Polish maritime security assets, including Navy units, rotary-wing aviation, ISR capabilities and potentially unmanned systems.

For special operations forces, the platform itself is only the first step; operational value is unlocked through integration into a wider maritime response architecture.

Strategic implications for Baltic security

The deployment of CB90 within Formoza should be viewed in a broader regional security context.

The Baltic Sea has evolved into a highly sensitive operational environment characterised by:

• increasing hybrid threats,
• vulnerability of critical subsea infrastructure,
• offshore energy asset protection requirements,
• intensified strategic competition in littoral zones.

Recent incidents involving undersea infrastructure and maritime sabotage have reinforced the need for rapid-response, shallow-water capable assets able to reach and secure incident areas faster than conventional patrol vessels.

In this context, CB90 provides Poland with an agile maritime response capability suited for:

• offshore platform security,
• LNG terminal protection,
• suspicious vessel interception,
• counter-diversionary operations in ports and anchorages.

Its speed and manoeuvrability also support distributed operations, allowing multiple craft to operate simultaneously across several vectors of approach.

Toward a Scandinavian littoral warfare model

By introducing CB90 into operational service, Poland is moving closer to a Scandinavian-style littoral warfare model built around speed, decentralisation and tactical mobility.

Rather than relying exclusively on larger and less agile naval platforms, Formoza now gains access to a craft specifically engineered for contested coastal operations and rapid tactical manoeuvre.

Operationally, this translates into:

• shorter reaction timelines,
• improved insertion survivability,
• expanded reach in shallow-water environments,
• enhanced flexibility for maritime special operations.

The first exercises involving Formoza and the Stridsbåt 90H therefore represent more than a routine platform introduction. They mark the beginning of a doctrinal and operational shift in Poland’s maritime special operations posture.

In an increasingly contested Baltic environment, platforms such as the CB90 are no longer simply force multipliers - they are becoming foundational tools for modern coastal security and maritime special warfare.

CB90 in service: catalogue specifications versus real-world configuration

Technical data for CB90-class (Stridsbåt 90H) fast assault craft presented in catalogue materials, industry publications, and open-source references should be regarded as baseline or reference values corresponding to the standard configuration of the platform. In operational reality, the actual performance parameters of individual vessels may vary significantly depending on the selected variant, level of modification, and end-user requirements.

In its baseline configuration, the CB90 is a high-speed fast assault and landing craft approximately 15.9 metres in length, with a beam of about 3.8–3.9 metres and a draft in the range of 0.8–0.9 metres. Displacement typically varies between approximately 13 and 20 tonnes, depending on payload and installed equipment. Propulsion is usually provided by twin diesel engines driving waterjet systems, enabling maximum speeds of approximately 40–45 knots, combined with exceptional manoeuvrability and the ability to operate in shallow and confined coastal waters.

The standard crew complement is typically 3 personnel, with troop transport capacity for approximately 18–21 embarked operators, alongside the ability to carry around 4–5 tonnes of equipment and mission payload. A defining feature of the design is the bow ramp, enabling rapid deployment directly onto beaches, jetties, or other austere landing points.

Armament and onboard systems are modular in nature and may include various configurations of crew-served weapons (such as 12.7 mm heavy machine guns, 40 mm automatic grenade launchers, or remotely operated weapon stations), as well as communication, navigation, and surveillance systems tailored to specific operator requirements.

It should be emphasized that the CB90 is a highly configurable platform rather than a fixed, uniform vessel design. Export variants and upgraded units may differ in terms of performance, displacement, protection levels, and integration of command, control, and reconnaissance systems.

As a result, catalogue specifications should be interpreted as indicative reference data rather than a definitive description of the capabilities of any specific operational unit.

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jednostka wojskowa formoza wojska specjalne kutry szturmowe Stridsbat 90H CB90 Formoza

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