Confirmation two weeks ago that the Czech Republic has given its approval for the purchase of 246 CV90 infantry fighting vehicles (IFV’s) for the country’s Army is excellent news for the BAE Systems Hägglunds subsidiary in Sweden. The CV90 deal is valued at £2.18bn and will provide versatile vehicles for Czech soldiers and also involve Czech industry in the programme.
The Czech Republic will become the ninth member of what is known as the CV90 User Group. In the process it will benefit from CV90 battle proven combat capability.
The partnership with Czech industry will enable them to contribute 40pc of the acquisition’s value through development, production, and assembly contracts.
BAE Systems Hägglunds in Sweden has so far manufactured over 1,400 CV90s in 17 different variants for European countries, including 5 NATO member countries, with Slovakia and the Czech Republic being the latest (8th and 9th) respectively of what is known as the CV90 User Group.
CV90 is without doubt world-leading combat capability and it is to be regretted that as yet, the UK Government has not procured a capability, that given the tragedy of Ajax procurement, had they chosen to acquire CV90, would have provided the UK Army with a reliable and well proven in service Infantry Fighting Vehicle that is so desperately needs.
The IFV variant is at the core of the CV90 family of vehicles. Agile and powerful, CV90 in this form leads the market in the 20 to 35-ton class of vehicle and has been designed in order to enable integration of a wide range of weapons systems, providing all-target capability to land forces around the world.
The BAE Systems CV90 incorporates cutting-edge stealth technology as well as the Vehicle Information System (VIS), an open and scalable electronic architecture. It can also integrate complementary systems including the following Battlefield Management Systems, Defensive Aids Suites and Identification Friend or Foe.
The CV90 IFV has an ergonomic, air-conditioned troop compartment. Catering for up to eight personnel it is equipped with collective and individual NBC protection. Battlefield awareness is ensured by a video network with displays at each crew station, combined with independent sights.
With more than 25 years’ experience developing, building and enhancing the CV90 it is hardly surprising that BAE Systems Hagglunds has maximised availability and cost efficiency through the anticipated long lifetime of the product.
Affordability along with a variety of product capability and choice to potential customers have always been key priorities emphasised in CV90 along with working with the customer on enhanced developments. Suffice to say that product development and further enhancement of CV90 has never ceased meaning that the CV90 available today is an even better capability today than it was ten years ago
Designed and engineered for optimum mobility and agility, with a variety of land and air transportation options and a capability that when deployed, delivers first-class performance across the toughest of terrains and having a full range of armament options, CV90 can be developed or configured to match any situation or requirement from patrol vehicle to that of full combat.
CV90 Survivability equipment is the most advanced in the world and the high payload capacity enables a wide range of equipment to be carried. With a crew of three and ability to carry up to eight soldiers, the all welded steel hull provides huge protection for those carried. CV90 has low radar and acoustic and infrared signature. Fire detection along with full nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) protection s provided. The range of vehicles also includes armoured recovery, forward command and bridge laying.
For the record, the CV90 Mk IV is a fifth generation CV90 infantry fighting vehicle offering improved speeds and equally improved handling in the battlefield. It has improved Scania engine with 1000hp power rating and X300 heavy duty transmission system. The Gross vehicle weight has been increased from 35 tons to 37 tons. It is fitted with a D-series turret that can accommodate 30/40mm-, 35/50mm and 120mm main guns and weapon pods for anti-tank guided missiles and machine guns. The turret can support extensive sensor integrations as part of the BAE Systems iFighting™ concept.
The Mk IV has qualified active protection system. The vehicle chassis has active damping feature in the base offering to enhance stability. It has fourth generation NGVA Standard Electronic Architecture that makes sensor data fusion effective and also enables real time parallel data processing. The new system architecture also supports machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence.
CV90 is delivered to the operator with complete through-life support commitment and with the C4I capability providing the crew with decision superiority it is not surprising that CV90 is considered by many as being the most advanced vehicle of its type. And with the advanced, scalable electronic architecture, the system meets EMC standards and allows straightforward integration of third party and legacy systems.
BAE Systems Hägglunds AB is based in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden. The company has a long and very illustrious history in engineering equipment stretching back to 1899 and at one time was engaged in hydraulic systems, ship and offshore cranes plus a large range of other engineering capabilities. Hagglunds was once part of the huge Swedish electrical conglomerate ASEA and which in the early 1990’s merged with the Swiss company Brown Boveri to form ABB.
However, in part because of its engagement in building military equipment, the original Hägglunds Group (as opposed to AB Hägglunds & Sons) was excluded from the above merger. Hagglunds Vehicles AB ultimately became part of Alvis plc in 2004 and this in turn passed to BAE Systems in 1997. BAE Systems also owns Bofors in Sweden.
With development of CV90 Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) range having started in 1984 in response to requirements outlined by the Swedish Army for a family of armoured combat vehicles, production began in 1993 and is now in service in Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Netherlands, Finland, Denmark and Estonia. Whether in AFV or IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) form or the very many other variants available, CV 90 has gone from strength to strength. The Czech Republic is but the latest example of a rising potential customer base for this formidable range of military capability.
CHW (London – 5th June 2023)
Howard Wheeldon FRAeS
Wheeldon Strategic Advisory Ltd,
M: +44 7710 779785
Skype: chwheeldon
@AirSeaRescue