The Bundeswehr has ordered 15 Watercat M18 AMC multi-purpose combat boats from the Finnish company Marine Alutech Oy Ab.
The contract was signed on October 12, 2026, by the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw), according to Militär Aktuell.
The boats are intended for the German Navy’s Marine Corps battalion, which carries out missions in coastal waters and on land in the coastal zone.
In addition to the 15 boats, the contract covers personnel training, documentation, and additional equipment.
Delivery of all 15 Watercat M18 AMC boats to the Bundeswehr is scheduled for 2029–2031.
The procurement is intended to increase the tactical mobility of the German Navy’s marines and enable faster deployment of units between sea and shore in areas where the use of larger vessels is limited.
Watercat M18 AMC
The Watercat M18 AMC is a high-speed armored combat boat developed by the Finnish shipbuilding company Marine Alutech Oy Ab.
Measuring 19.9 meters in length and 4.3 meters in width, the M18 can accommodate 30 people, 26 of whom are marines, for whom individual seats are provided.
The boat can reach a maximum speed of over 40 knots and maintain a sustained cruising speed of up to 35 knots when fully loaded. Its range is 370 kilometers.
The boat’s hull and superstructure are made of aluminum alloy and composite materials, which incorporate ballistic protection against light small arms fire. The vessel’s standard armament consists of a remotely controlled module equipped with a 12.7 mm machine gun.
Earlier, Militarnyi reported that Lithuania and Latvia had signed a joint contract with Marine Alutech as part of the Common Future Multipurpose Attack Craft (CFMAC) program. The program involves the procurement of multipurpose combat boats based on the Watercat M18.
Source: Militaryni
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