Elbit Systems announced on 8 August 2024 that it has secured a contract worth approximately USD 130 million (EUR 117.7 million) to supply Iron Fist active protection systems (APSs) to BAE Systems Hägglunds for installation on a European client’s CV90 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs).
Elbit declined to name the client or the number of systems covered by the contract.
There are currently eight European operators of the CV90 – Denmark, Estonia, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine – while the Czech Republic and Slovakia have the type on order. If Elbit’s latest Iron Fist contract is not related to the new-build Czech or Slovakian CV90s, it might have been placed in conjunction with one of the CV90 upgrade programmes currently taking place.
For example, ESD understands that the Iron Fist APS has been specified for 90 of the 122 Dutch CV90s that are currently being upgraded by BAE Systems Hägglunds in co-operation with Dutch form Van Halteren Technologies.
Meanwhile, on 21 May 2024 BAE Systems announced it had signed a contract with the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration for new CV9035 MkIIIC IFVs that would be used to both replace CV9040 vehicles donated to Ukraine by the Swedish government as well as expand Ukraine’s capabilities.
On 21 March 2024 BAE Systems announced it had signed a contract with the Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation for the mid-life upgrade of the Royal Danish Army’s fleet of CV90s.
The Iron Fist system is an advanced hard-kill APS aimed at enhancing the self-defence capabilities of AFVs against modern battlefield threats. It is the Israel Defense Force’s second-generation APS and is characterised by high performance and low volume, weight and power requirements, according to Elbit. The system provides AFVs with 360° protection from a wide variety of anti-armour threats, including anti-tank rockets, anti-tank guided weapons, tactical unmanned aerial vehicles and loitering munitions.
Elbit stated that this latest Iron Fist contract will be performed over a period of five-and-a-half years.
