Mortar-equipped CV90 sparks international interest

Sweden’s FMV recently showed off the new CV90 Mortar vehicle (designated the Grkpbv 90) to an audience of representatives from Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland and the US.

The demonstration of the new mortar vehicle’s capabilities was carried out on an FMV test site in Karlsborg. With a grenade launcher mounted on the CV90 chassis, the Grkpbv 90 is a response by BAE SystemsHägglunds to a 575 million kr ($68 million) contract from FMV to install a vehicle-mounted mortar on the Swedish Army’s CV90 Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) in December 2016.

The mortar system chosen for the contract was the Mjölner, which has been installed on 40 CV90s to date. The Mjölner consists of two smoothbore 120mm gun barrels capable of 60 degrees of slew in azimuth and elevation from 45 to 85 degrees. It can fire up to 16 rounds per minute, and is compatible with all standard 120mm mortar ammunition.

‘It is gratifying to have such a great international interest in this Swedish-developed system,’ says Mikael Frisell, Head of Army Equipment at FMV. ‘It shows that this is a capability that is needed on the modern battlefield. Now, we hope that what this successful project has delivered will have more users.’

First entering service in the early 90s, the CV90 was developed specifically for sub-arctic climate conditions, offering mobility in snow and wetlands with a capacity for six to eight infantry. About 1,200 vehicles are currently in service with the Nordic countries.

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