The CV90 illustrates how integrated Europe’s defense architecture has become—with the vehicle manufactured in Sweden by British-owned conglomerate BAE Systems for use in Slovakia.

The first new CV90 combat vehicle of a planned 152 destined for NATO member the Slovak Republic rolled off the assembly line at BAE Systems Hägglunds’ facility in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, this month. Slovak Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák and his Swedish counterpart, Pål Jonson, attended the February 20 ceremony marking the milestone, where they were joined by Director General of Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) Mikael Granholm.

The Slovak military closed a government-to-government deal with Stockholm to acquire 122 CV90 MkIV infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) along with 30 other CV90 variants. The deal was valued at approximately $1.37 billion and included training, as well as tactical simulation systems.

“We are proud to see the Slovak CV90 programme progressing as planned, with effective industrial cooperation at its core,” said Tommy Gustafsson-Rask, managing director of BAE Systems Hägglunds. “Slovakia has joined the family of nations operating the CV90, a combat-proven platform serving multiple European armies.”

About the CV90 Infantry Fighting Vehicle

• Year Introduced: 1993
• Number Built: ~1,400 (all users)
• Dimensions: Approx. 6.5–7 m (21–23 ft) length, 3.2 m (10.5 ft) width, 2.5 m (8.2 ft) height
• Weight: 35–37 tonnes (depending on configuration).
• Engine: Scania diesel engine (delivering up to 1,000 horsepower in Mk IV)
• Speed: 70 km/h (43 mph) on road
• Range: Approx. 300–350 km (186–217 mi)
• Armament:
  • 40mm Bofors L/70 autocannon, 30mm Bushmaster II, or 35/50mm Bushmaster
  • 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun.
  • Optional anti-tank guided missiles (e.g., Spike).
• Crew: 3 (driver, gunner, commander), plus 6–8 dismounted soldiers

The CV90 (Combat Vehicle 90) is a family of Swedish tracked combat vehicles that were designed by Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration (Försvarets Materielverk, FMV), Hägglunds, and Bofors during the mid-1980s to early 1990s. The IFV first entered service in 1993, and over the past three decades, the platform has been continuously updated with technological improvements to meet changing battlefield requirements. Sweden has some 549 CV90s in its arsenal, including 42 that have been updated to the CV9040C model with additional armor.

The tracked, three-crew CV90 can carry up to eight infantry soldiers and is armed with a Bofors 40mm autocannon in its armored turret. Its welded steel armor hull can reportedly withstand hits from 30mm armored-piercing rounds – including the type used by many Russian infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and armored combat vehicles (ACVs).

Improved versions can also withstand mine blasts equivalent to 10kg of TNT, while appliqué ceramic armor can be added to later production models. A 550hp Scania DS14 diesel engine powers it, and the improved models have a maximum range of up to 600km.

The CV90 Construction Shows European Defense Unity

Even as the final assembly of the CV90 occurred in Sweden, Slovak industrial partners were involved in “the production and delivery of the vehicles,” BAE Systems confirmed. “The contract includes significant participation from domestic industry, with Slovak companies accounting for more than 40 percent of the contract’s total value,” and nearly 30 indigenous companies were part of the supply chain.

Among the Slovak companies involved in the production of the CV90 were Hriňovské Strojárne, Konštrukta–Defense, MSM Land Systems, and S.M.S. spol. s r.o., STV Machinery, and ThyssenKrupp Rothe Erde Slovakia.

In addition to the IFV model, a command, reconnaissance, anti-materiel rifle team carrier, mortar team carrier, armored recovery vehicle, and armored engineer vehicle are also produced. It is not clear which of the variants will be operated by the Slovak military, but it had considered the CV90120 armed with a 120mm anti-tank gun.

The CV90 has been adopted by multiple NATO members, including Denmark, Estonia, the Netherlands, and Norway, and is also operated by Finland and Switzerland.

The Czech Republic is also in the process of equipping its armed forces with the IFV model, which will be armed with a 30mm Bushmaster II cannon and feature advanced fire control systems. 

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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