Sweden, Lithuania, Norway, and Finland are exploring the possibility of a collective acquisition of several hundred CV90 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), as announced by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Tuesday.
During a joint press conference with Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas, Kristersson affirmed that the nations are in the process of drafting a statement of intent to formalize their collaboration on this procurement.
“Boosting our defence today is an investment in our freedom tomorrow. The Government sees major benefits in a coordinated acquisition of CV90, as this will speed up deliveries, reduce costs and benefit our defence industry ties. A Statement of Intent on CV90 cooperation is currently being drafted, and Sweden looks forward to taking this concrete step forward in strengthening our joint security,” says Mr Kristersson.
This move is motivated by security apprehensions stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the increasing pressure from the United States for European NATO allies to enhance their own defence capabilities.
The Combat Vehicle 90 (CV90) represents a series of tracked armoured combat vehicles developed by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), Hägglund & Söner, and Bofors during the mid-1980s to early 1990s, with its introduction into service in Sweden occurring in the mid-1990s. The design of the CV90 platform has undergone continuous evolution, progressing from the Mk 0 to the latest Mk IV, adapting to technological advancements and the evolving demands of the battlefield.
The Swedish variant of the primary infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) is equipped with a turret from Bofors, featuring a 40mm Bofors autocannon. In contrast, export models are outfitted with Hägglunds E-series turrets, which can be armed with either a 30mm Mk44 or a 35 mm Bushmaster autocannon. Over the years, Hägglund & Söner’s role has transitioned to Alvis Hägglunds (since 1997) and subsequently to BAE Systems Hägglunds (since 2004).
Engineered specifically for the Nordic subarctic environment, the vehicle demonstrates excellent mobility in snowy and wetland conditions while accommodating and supporting eight fully equipped soldiers, and in later iterations, six. Additional variants include those designed for forward artillery observation, command and control, anti-aircraft operations, armoured recovery, and electronic warfare, among others. Presently, approximately 1,400 vehicles across 17 variants are in service or will be deployed with ten user nations, seven of which are members of the NATO alliance.
