Denmark and Sweden have ordered new CV90 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) from BAE Systems in contracts worth a total of around USD 2.5 billion (EUR 2.36 billion), the company announced on 6 December 2024.
The contracts come under BAE Systems’ framework agreement with the Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO) and the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) to expand the acquisition of new CV9035MkIIIC IFVs for both countries.
Denmark is procuring 115 new CV9035MkIIICs, while Sweden has agreed to acquire a total of 50 new vehicles, although the agreement also includes further CV90s for Ukraine financed by the two governments.
The contracts reach a value of around USD 2.5 billion with the inclusion of spares, support, logistics and training.
“The infantry fighting vehicle is an essential component of the heavy brigade we are currently building,” Major General Peter Boysen, chief of the Royal Danish Army, was quoted as saying in a BAE Systems press release. “The 115 new vehicles will significantly enhance Denmark’s contribution to collective security and international operations. With the 44 existing vehicles, we will have a total of 159 vehicles, providing us with substantial strength – also from an international perspective.”
“These new CV9035MkIIICs will extend the capabilities of the armed forces of Sweden and Denmark,” said Tommy Gustafsson-Rask, managing director of BAE Systems Hägglunds, which designs and produces the CV90. “They will also provide their crews with improved situational awareness and increased mobility, protection, and lethality,” he added.
The new version of the CV9035MkIIIC is built to the same standard as the latest CV90 mid-life upgrade programme for the Netherlands. The vehicles will be equipped with a new CV90 turret, which “provides a leap forward in design and functionality”, according to BAE Systems.
The company additionally noted that the CV90 is built on years of combat-proven experience, continuous improvements and data gathering from the CV90 User Club, which comprises the 10 nations operating CV90 fleets. The commonality of the CV90 platform offers the users interoperability within as well as between nations.
CV90 variants weigh between 23 and 38 tonnes and can integrate a range of weapon systems. While previous CV90s have usually been armed with a 30 mm or 40 mm cannon, the CV9035MkIIIC, which weighs around 32 tonnes, is armed with a 35 mm Bushmaster cannon.
A total of 1,900 CV90s have been ordered in 17 different variants, with the vehicle selected by 10 European nations.
CV90s have seen combat in Afghanistan and Ukraine, as well as operations in Liberia.
