BAE Systems Hägglunds announced on 2 May 2023 that its has signed a contract with Slovakian company Koval Systems in support of the production of CV90MkIV infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) for the Slovak armed forces.
The contract covers the assembly of complete turret systems and the production of mechanical turret components for Slovakian CV90s; the country ordered 152 CV9035 vehicles, including 122 IFVs and 30 examples of other variants, in December 2022 in a deal worth EUR 1.3 Bn.
“Together with our Slovak partners, we are committed to delivering an infantry fighting vehicle equipped with advanced capabilities and digital technology to the Slovak Armed Forces. The CV90 is a high-quality and very successful vehicle in the market that has proven itself through the rigours of combat,” Tommy Gustafsson-Rask, managing director of BAE Systems Hägglunds in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, was quoted as saying in a company press release.
“We believe that this programme will benefit the Slovak Army and be a success for BAE Systems Hägglunds, Koval Ssystems, and our entire network of Slovak suppliers. These valuable new strategic partnerships will significantly help Slovak industry in the long term,” Ján Michálek, the Business Director of Koval Systems in Beluša, Slovakia, was quoted by BAE as saying.
BAE’s contract with Koval Systems is one of several that will be signed as the Slovak CV90 programme’s network of local Slovak industry partners is finalised. For example, ZTS-Special has been selected as the complete vehicle assembler on the project, signing an agreement with BAE Systems Hägglunds in December 2022; Ray Service will conduct development work and production of electrical components and subsystems; and Aliter Technologies will work on command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) capabilities.
Peter Felstead
