The Swedish defense procurement agency (FMV) has offered the CV90 combat vehicle to Slovakia as part of the central European country’s infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) procurement program.
FMV teamed up with BAE Systems, the manufacturer of the vehicle, to submit the offer to Slovakia, which plans to acquire 152 new IFVs in multiple variants. The new IFV is expected to replace the BVP-1, BVP-2 and BVP M tracked combat vehicles currently in service with the Slovakian armed forces.
BAE Systems said the offer would ensure the production and delivery of the CV90 in collaboration with local Slovak industry.
The joint filing by FMV and BAE Systems confirms the Swedish states’ support for Slovakia, further strengthening governmental relations as the country looks to modernize its ground forces by 2030, the company said. The bid includes support with training, tactics, and future development and welcomes Slovakia as a member of the CV90 user club.
FMV added that the offer includes other areas of cooperation around CV90, such as training, exchange during exercises and collaboration on future technology development. A financing solution in collaboration with state-owned Svensk Exportkredit export credit agency and the Export Credit Board to meet the Slovak defense ministry’s request for state cooperation is also on the table.
The Swedish offer applies to the combat vehicle MkIV CV90. Variants of the vehicle are in service with the armed forces of Sweden, Norway, Finland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Denmark and Estonia.
According to BAE Systems, the latest MkIV version combines improved battlefield speeds and handling with an upgraded electronic architecture to support future growth capabilities as the complex battlefield evolves.
“BAE Systems’ approach is built on strategic collaboration with local suppliers, enabling them to play a high-value role in the development, production, training, and support of the CV90 MkIV and all its variants,” said Tommy Gustafsson-Rask, managing director of BAE Systems Hägglunds. “We are committed to exceeding the mandated 40 per cent requirement for direct content as we work closely with Slovak industry to deliver the most capable, combat-proven IFV on the market today.”
In June 2021, the CV90 participated in dynamic and static demonstrations to Slovak VIPs, including defense minister Jaroslav Naď, and representatives from the Army at the Military Technical and Testing Institute of Záhorie, Republic of Slovakia. Three variants of the CV90 family – the CV90 MkIV, an armored personnel carrier, and the medium tank CV90120 – showcased the capabilities of the CV90 fleet.
Other contenders that were evaluated in Slovakia included the Ascod CV from General Dynamics European Land Systems and the Lynx IFV from Rheinmetall. The trio was also evaluated by the Czech Republic last year in a program that was subsequently halted after no bidders met all Czech MOD requirements, as per an official statement at the time.
