CV90
A range of infantry fighting vehicles and derivative combat support vehicles developed by Hägglunds and Bofors based on the requirements of the Swedish Army. Development took place during the second half of the 1980s and early 1990s. Prototype trials took place between 1988 and 1991, and deliveries of production vehicles to the Swedish army began in 1994. The vehicle subsequently attracted the attention of foreign armies, for whom it was produced in several improved variants. By 2016, more than 1,280 CV90 series vehicles in 15 variants have been produced and are in service with 7 armies, 4 of which are NATO members. Infantry fighting vehicles from the armaments of the Norwegian, Danish and Swedish armies have been deployed in combat against insurgents in Afghanistan.
CV90 Mk 0
The first generation of vehicles introduced into the Swedish Army's arsenal and armed with the Bofors L/70 40 mm calibre gun in a two-seat turret assembly. Together with the basic variant of the Strf 9040 infantry fighting vehicle, 4 versions of combat support vehicles (Stripbv 90 command post, Bgbv 90 recovery vehicle, Epbv 90 artillery observation post and Lvkv 90 anti-tank self-propelled gun) were purchased. The CV90 Mk 0 (unmodernised) vehicles featured fully analogue electronics, a 405 kW (550 hp) engine, limited night fighting capability, weaker armour and a main gun without stabilisation.
The Strf 9040 infantry fighting vehicles were gradually upgraded (either in production or by conversion of production examples) to versions Strf 9040A, Strf 9040B (Strf 9040B1) and Strf 9040C.
Variants (serial):
Strf 9040 - infantry fighting vehicle
Strf 9040A - infantry fighting vehicle
Strf 9040B - infantry fighting vehicle
Strf 9040C - infantry fighting vehicle
Stripbv 90 - command post
Bgbv 90 - recovery vehicle
Epbv 90 - artillery observation post
Grkpbv 90 Mjölner - self-propelled mortar
Lvkv 90 - self-propelled anti-aircraft gun
Variants (prototypes):
Strf 9040/56 - tank missile interceptor fitted with RB56 anti-tank guided missiles; not introduced due to unresolved technical problems;
Störpbv 90 - electronic warfare vehicle; based on Strf 9040A without turret, which is replaced by a fixed superstructure with extendable mast and LEMUR weapon station; project cancelled due to lack of funding;
Grkpbv 90120 - self-propelled mortar fitted with turret assembly AMOS (Advanced Mortar System); project cancelled due to lack of funding.
CV90 Mk I
Second generation infantry fighting vehicle derived from the CV90 Mk 0. This type was successful in a Norwegian Army tender, beating competing types M2 Bradley, Warrior and Pizarro/Ulan. The vehicle was equipped with a newly designed E30 two-seat turret for firing the 30 mm calibre cannon. The CV90 Mk I vehicles featured all-analog electronics, a 445 kW engine (605 hp), first-generation thermal imaging for night fighting, reinforced armour (STANAG 4569 Annex A Level 5) and a stabilised main gun.
Variants (serial):
CV9030N
CV90 Mk II
Infantry fighting vehicles of this generation were introduced into the armaments of the armies of Switzerland and Finland. The CV90 Mk II features semi-digital electronics, a 460 kW engine (680 hp), on-board diagnostics for condition assessment, second-generation thermal imaging for night fighting, reinforced armour (STANAG 4569 Annex A Level 5) and a stabilised main gun.
Variants (serial):
CV9030FIN
CV9030CH
CV90 Mk III
The latest generation with the ability to use the E30 turret kit for the 30mm Bushmaster II cannon or the E35 for the 35mm Bushmaster III cannon. The chassis has been redesigned to increase the payload capacity of the vehicle. The CV90 Mk III series transports were introduced into the armament of the Dutch, Danish and Norwegian armies. The outnumbered Dutch vehicles were then sold to the Estonian Army. The CV90 Mk III features fully digital electronics, a 596 kW engine (810 hp), on-board diagnostics for technical condition assessment, a combat vehicle information system, a navigation system, third-generation thermal imaging for night fighting, reinforced armour (up to STANAG 4569 Annex A Level 6) and mine protection (up to STANAG 4569 Annex B Level 4), a hunter-killer fire control system and a 30 or 35 mm calibre main weapon with stabilisation and the ability to use programmable ammunition.
Variants (serial):
CV9030N
CV9035DK
CV9035EE
CV9035NL
Variants (prototypes):
CV90 Armadillo
CV90 CZ - vehicle presented during the selection procedure for a new infantry fighting vehicle of the Czech Army (photo below);
CV90 CZr - vehicle presented during the selection procedure for a new infantry fighting vehicle of the Czech Army (photo below).
CV90 Mk IV
In January 2018, the fifth-generation CV90 infantry fighting vehicle project was unveiled at the London International Armoured Vehicle Conference. The machine has a new Scania engine with up to 1,000 horsepower and the latest version of the X300 transmission. The vehicle's maximum technically permissible weight has been increased from 35 to 37 tonnes. This gives the user an extra two tonnes of payload while maintaining the vehicle's manoeuvrability and the same level of protection. The chassis suspension features active damping technology. A new generation turret assembly is installed on the chassis, with a modular design to accommodate 30/40 mm, 35/50 mm and 120 mm calibre cannons and preparation for the integration of additional weapons (anti-tank guided missiles and machine guns). The fourth generation electronic architecture increases the efficiency of sensor data fusion and greatly enhances real-time parallel processing.
Slovakia became the first customer of the CV90 Mk IV series when the Government of the Slovak Republic, at its meeting on 28 June 2022, approved the proposal of the Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic to acquire CV90 Mk IV tracked armoured vehicles with 35mm cannon through an intergovernmental agreement with the Kingdom of Sweden. The total estimated cost of the tracked equipment, including estimated infrastructure costs, was approximately EUR 1,688 billion including VAT. The contract for the purchase of 152 new tracked combat vehicles in the basic variants PBOV (tracked armoured combat vehicle) and POV (tracked armoured vehicle) for approximately EUR 1.32 billion excluding VAT (converted to approximately CZK 31.6 billion) was signed by the representatives of Slovakia and Sweden on Monday 12 December 2011. The contract also included training and educational equipment, including tactical simulators. The main Slovak industrial partner is the state-owned enterprise ZTS-SPECIAL, which will carry out the final assembly of 131 vehicles. Koval Systems will carry out the complete production of 116 D turret sets. Other key industrial partners include EVPÚ (mechatronics), Aliter Techonolgies (ICT), Ray Service and Neways (electronics) or Virtual Reality Media (simulators). The planned delivery schedule is as follows:
Version | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| tracked armoured fighting vehicle PBOV (infantry fighting vehicle) | 7 made in Sweden 1 made in Slovakia | 34 made in Slovakia | 46 made in Slovakia | 2 made in Sweden 20 made in Slovakia | 110 |
| tracked armoured fighting vehicle - command PBOV-V | - | 10 made in Slovakia | 4 made in Slovakia | 1 made in Sweden | 15 |
| tracked armoured fighting vehicle - reconnaissance PBOV-P | - | 2 made in Slovakia | 6 made in Slovakia | 1 made in Sweden | 9 |
| tracked armoured fighting vehicle - PBOV-AP anti-material rifles | - | 1 made in Slovakia | 1 made in Slovakia | 1 made in Sweden | 3 |
| tracked armoured fighting vehicle - grenade launcher squad PBOV-GD | - | 3 made in Slovakia | 3 made in Slovakia | 1 made in Sweden 2 made in Slovakia | 9 |
| tracked armoured recovery vehicle POV-U | - | 2 made in Sweden | - | 1 made in Sweden | 3 |
| tracked armoured vehicle - POV-DTP technical assistance workshop | - | 2 made in Sweden | - | 1 made in Sweden | 3 |
The CV90 Mk IV generation vehicle was also offered to the Czech Army as a replacement for the BVP-2 type. The second bidder was the Czech Republic, whose government decided on 20 July 2022 to cancel the tender for new infantry fighting vehicles after two of the three bidders offering Lynx KF41 and ASCOD refused to agree to the new terms. A legal analysis commissioned by the Ministry of Defence concluded that cancelling the tender was the only option in such a case. The government has therefore decided to resolve the situation by negotiating with the Swedish government and purchasing CV90 vehicles.
On 27 August 2022, during the International Aviation Days SIAF 2022 in Malacky, ministers Jana Černochová and Jaroslav Naď signed a declaration on a joint approach to the acquisition of CV90 vehicles for the Czech and Slovak armies. The declaration is intended to ensure coordination of the procedure for the acquisition of CV90 tracked infantry fighting vehicles in many areas - technical, industrial or legal. Cooperation should also take place in the area of the operation of the CV90 vehicles themselves. This would concern the maintenance of operational capability or the supply of spare parts. The two ministries also intend to look for opportunities to cooperate in the training of military units armed with the same types of infantry fighting vehicles and intend to share information on the experience of operating tracked infantry fighting vehicles in both armies.
On Wednesday 21 December 2022, representatives of the Ministry of Defence, the Swedish government armaments agency FMV and the Swedish company BAE Systems Hägglunds AB signed a joint memorandum of understanding. The document confirmed the agreement of all three parties on the basic parameters regarding the acquisition of CV90 infantry fighting vehicles for the Czech Army. According to the memorandum, the Czech Republic and Sweden are to conclude the contract for the acquisition of CV90 vehicles by 31 May 2023. Stockholm will not only deliver 210 vehicles in seven modifications (combat, command, reconnaissance, engineer, recovery, medical and artillery observation) to Prague on delivery dates according to the operational needs of the Czech Army, but will also provide related services, including military training for commanders, operators and technicians and cooperation between the defence industries of the two countries. The memorandum also sets out the purchase price, which will not exceed CZK 51.684 billion including VAT, and information on deliveries. The involvement of the Czech industry will amount to at least 40% of the contract value. Maintenance of the vehicles is also envisaged on the territory of the Czech Republic, which should be carried out entirely by Czech companies, including the state enterprise VOP CZ. The Memorandum contains a provision according to which the service contract will be negotiated separately.
Variants (prototypes):
CV9035/50 - infantry fighting vehicle (photo below)
Light tanks
CV90105 - a light tank project using a turret kit with a 105 mm calibre gun from GIAT (Nexter); a newer version uses the XC-8 turret kit from CMI Defence
CV90120-T - a light tank project using a turret kit with a 120 mm calibre gun from RUAG; a newer version uses the XC-8 turret kit from CMI Defence.
