CV90 aims to follow up northern European success by meeting southern demand

BAE Systems Hägglunds’ CV90 IFV rules the roost in northern Europe, used by all Nordic countries apart from Iceland, the armoured vehicle has made inroads south with sales in the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Switzerland. In more recent times it has seen action on battlefields of Ukraine.

Key to the vehicle’s initial success was a design that meets the demands of northern Europe’s cold and wet environment. Developed in the 1980s, its home country of Sweden made the first orders in 1993, followed closely by Norway and other neighbouring countries early in the following century and into the 2010s.

The platform is now into its fourth iteration but one of its strengths is its modularity whereby protection systems and weapons can be integrated to meet particular needs.

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The CV90 was developed to meet the particular need of Sweden for an IFV. The original Mk0 version was fitted with an unstabilised Bofors and, prioritising high reliability and ease of maintenance, it was fitted for but not with an applique armour system. It was able to carry eight crew with full gear.

The MkI was developed simultaneously with the Swedish version but included additional hull armour, an improved gun and turret, and improvements in lethality, mobility and survivability. This version was selected by Norway.

The MkII was further step change for the platform with the system partly digitised and the Bofors gun replaced by a Mk44 Bushmaster II 30mm chain autocannon. It was selected by Switzerland and Finland.

Growing and boosting its firepower

The latest operational version of the CV90 is MkIII. A major driver of the changes to the vehicle came from technical developments and the experience of users in Afghanistan where it was deployed by Danish, Dutch, Norwegian and Swedish forces.

It is now fully digitised with an electronic architecture and the weapon has been changed again to a 35/50mm Bushmaster III cannon with an integrated muzzle ammunition programmer featuring a number of different firing scenarios depending on target setup.

Data from Shephard Defence Insight, January 2024.

Aside from system changes, the vehicle itself has improved survivability with better mine protection and defence against top attack. Upgrades have also been made to the suspension and power-to-weight ratio to allow for an increased gross vehicular weight caused by the new weapon system.

More CV90 customers have signed up for this new version with a specific Dutch MkIII version (CV9035NL), some of which were purchased by Estonia, while Denmark also ordered its own version of the MkIII (CV9035DK).

Five years ago, the MkIV was launched and this version will be offered to potential customers in eastern Europe including Hungary. It was also offered to the Australian Army’s Land 400 Phase 3 IFV requirement which was won by Hanwha’s Redback IFV.

The improvements to the platform follows the identical trajectory of the changes to earlier versions with upgrades to mobility, lethality, engine and vehicle payload, as well as the further development of advanced computing on the platforms.

Much like previous versions, the MkIV is a tracked IFV with a hydraulic rear aft door for access into the vehicle. A gross vehicular weight of 35–37 tons makes it heavier than previous versions, but upgrades to the engine and transmission result in an overall improvement in mobility and agility.

A crew of three, driver, commander and gunner, situated towards the front of the vehicle, can support and transport up to eight fully equipped infantry soldiers in the rear.

The CV90’s expanding family

Norway was the first export customer ordering 104 vehicle in April 1994 to replace M113-derived NM-135 tracked APCs which were in service with the Norwegian Army. Deliveries were completed in 2000 and these have all since undergone substantial upgrades.

In 2014 Estonia signed a contract for 44 surplus CV9035NLs and six surplus ARVs based on the Leopard 1 MBT hull. Prior to being delivered to Estonia, the second-hand vehicles were checked and overhauled if necessary.

The CV90 has been continually upgraded throughout its life. (Photo: BAE Systems)

Switzerland received 186 vehicles in four different variants based on the Mk II design between 2002 and 2005. In November 2020, BAE Systems Hägglunds was contracted to perform a mid-life upgrade on all 186 of Switzerland’s CV9030CH IFVs to keep them in service until 2040.

The Czech MoD announced in May 2023 it had signed a contract worth between €2 billion – €2.5 billion (US$2.2 billion –$2.7 billion) for 246 CV90 vehicles. Deliveries are expected to be completed this decade and neighbouring Slovakia has also selected the platform with 152 also expected to be delivered before the end of the 2020s.

More users and more orders for the CV90

Users have shown faith in the platform with additional orders and upgrades to take older platforms closer to successive variants including installing newer cannons and active protection systems (The Netherlands) and the replacement of obsolescent optical, electrical and electronic subsystems (Switzerland).

The Swiss upgrade will see active damping technology fitted to the suspension and cameras will be installed around the vehicle.

Sweden has undertaken substantial upgrades to its fleet with changes including a new battle management system and refurbishment of vehicles’ chassis, upgrades for survivability, and improvements to turrets and enhanced combat system performance.

The Nordic country has also committed itself to buying new vehicles and signed an agreement worth $33 million to officially begin the process of replacing older vehicles and those donated to support Ukraine’s efforts in the war against invading Russian forces.

The CV90 was initially designed for cold environments. (Photo: Finnish Forces)

In June 2023, Ukraine announced it had signed a Joint Declaration on Cooperation in the Procurement and Operation of Tracked Infantry Combat Vehicles contract with the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Having already received 50 CV90s as military aid donations from Sweden in January 2023 and benefiting from the support of the more recent declaration, Shephard forecasts an order of up to 1,000 vehicles for an estimated $9.2 billion.

The use of the platform in eastern European countries makes it a strong contender for a potential Hungarian requirement and for the declared requirement in Romania. It could also potentially meet requirements even further afield in Brazil.

With its steady programme of improvements and ability to meet varying requirements, production of theCV90 will likely stretch out beyond the end of 2030. This battle-tested platform, which has seen action in Afghanistan and the colder and wetter climate of Ukraine, could potentially be in service as far out as 2050.