How Sweden is evolving the CV90 IFV and supporting Ukraine
Following a pre-production agreement with the Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV) in early October , BAE Systems Hägglunds expects a new firm contract for CV90 IFVs to be awarded in Q1 2024.
These vehicles are to replace 50 Swedish Army CV9040 IFVs armed with a 40mm L/70 cannon installed in a Bofors turret which have been supplied to Ukraine... Continues below
Newsletter Sponsors:
Above: The upcoming tranche of CV90 Mk IIICs for Sweden will be similar to this vehicle, but will have a new turret armed with a 35mm Bushmaster III chain gun, not the Bofors 40mm L/70 shown here. (Photo: BAE Systems)
Swedish assistance to Kyiv so far also includes BAE Systems Bofors 155mm Archer self-propelled artillery systems as well as large-calibre ammunition, Leopard 2 tanks and other materiel.
The upcoming FMV order will be for 50 new CV90 Mk IIICs which will feature a BAE Systems Hägglunds turret armed with a Northrop Grumman 35mm Bushmaster III chain gun.
This dual-feed weapon is already in service with Denmark, Estonia (on surplus Dutch vehicles) and the Netherlands and in addition to conventional ammunition natures can also fire an air-bursting round.
Explore armored vehicles and turret systems of Otokar, the global land systems manufacturer.
The weapon is electrically operated and the gunner can select single-shot or 200rpm modes, with empty cartridge cases ejected forwards out of the turret.
Bushmaster III fires standard Oerlikon 35x228mm ammunition which is manufactured in many countries, including Norway, but can be upgraded to fire 50mm rounds with greater target effectiveness.
The latest Swedish CV90s will also incorporate a new power pack consisting of an upgraded Scania V8 diesel coupled to a Perkins X-300 automatic transmission and cooling system.
They will retain standard steel tracks with rubber pads and not Soucy composite rubber tracks as fitted to the most recently upgraded CV9030s for Norway.
It is expected that additional CV90s, will be supplied to Ukraine following a joint statement of intent between the Prime Minister of Sweden and President Zelensky in August, covering commitment to support the IFV fleet and a note that ‘further cooperation on the CV90 platform will be mutually beneficial’.
Following this agreement, Ukraine’s Prime Minister stated during a press conference that there was intent to field up to 1,000 CV90 vehicles and set up a domestic production line. This must however be seen as an ambition over a long period of time.
During talks in Denmark in mid-December the defence ministers of that country and Sweden signed a joint declaration of intent on further support to Ukraine in the combat vehicle arena.
Copenhagen will initially contribute $262 million financially and Sweden will execute procurement within the framework signed between the FMV and Ukraine in July last year to supply additional CV90s.
Other articles in this newsletter:
Divergent paths – how NATO members are abandoning standardisation for artillery rockets
Shoulder-launched anti-armour weapons take to the skies with UAS integration
In addition, Sweden is also asking more European countries for extra financial support to bring more CV90s to the front line.
Rather than ex-Swedish Army CV9040s these would be new-build vehicles but it has not been confirmed whether these will be CV90 Mk IIIs or the latest Mk IV which has been selected by Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Given the delivery timescale and urgent needs of Ukraine, a Swedish governmental source has stated it is most likely to be the CV90 Mk III version.
Above: The Swedish Army will soon take delivery of two new variants of the CV90, a maintenance vehicle (left) and combat engineer vehicle (right). (Photo: BAE Systems)
In addition to these export contracts, BAE Systems Hägglunds is building 40 CV90-based twin 120mm Mjölner self-propelled mortars which will bring the total Swedish fleet up to 80 units, all to a common standard, which are to be delivered by late 2025.
Hägglunds also recently teamed with Norwegian company Ritek to supply the Swedish Army with eight forward maintenance vehicles and eight combat engineer vehicles based on new CV90 chassis, with final deliveries by 2027. Both are new variants for the Swedish Army.
They will be fitted with a Kongsberg 12.7mm remote weapon station and role-specific equipment with the combat engineer vehicle, for example, featuring a dozer blade and crane with telescopic jib.
Don't want to miss out on future Decisive Edge content? Make sure you are signed up to our email newsletters.
