A CV90 made by BAE shown in a snowy landscape. (Courtesy BAE)
BRNO, Czech Republic — It’s proving to be a big week for the CV90 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), with a new customer buying in and the vehicles set to be “operational” in Ukraine in the coming days.
On 24 May, the government of the Czech Republic confirmed that it had successfully completed negotiations with its Swedish counterpart and BAE Systems Hägglunds to acquire 246 MkIV CV90s.
The contract, valued at $2.2 billion, will include seven different variants of the CV90. One hundred and forty of the platforms, the majority of the purchase, are expected to be IFV variants with Hägglunds D-series turret with a 30 millimeter gun. A total of 10 vehicles will be delivered to the Czech Ministry of Defense (MoD) in 2026 and the remaining platforms will be supplied until 2030, company officials confirmed.
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According to a statement from BAE Systems Hägglunds, the CV90 MkIV will provide the Czech Ministry of Defense with “superior tactical and strategic capabilities to target a wide range of ground and airborne targets, and exceptional endurance in any terrain and environment tactical”.
The MkIV has a gross vehicle weight of 37 tonnes, an increase of two tonnes in payload over legacy models. It also includes the NGVA Standard electronic architecture to support future upgrades. Denmark, Estonia, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland already operate the platform, and the CV90 has also been purchased by Slovakia, although the platforms have not yet entered service.
Defense sources told Breaking Defense that the Czech IFVs could also feature Elbit Systems’ active protection system (APS) and Rafael Spike LR anti-tank guided munitions (ATGMs).
The Czech CV90s will be delivered to the armed forces in partnership with local industry, which will deliver 40 percent of the “development, production and assembly” contracts, according to BAE Systems Hägglunds. Local partners include VOP, Excalibur Army, VR Group, Ray Service and Meopta.
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A Czech Ministry of Defense statement on the contract said: “The conflict in Ukraine has shown that having companies with such capabilities on their territory and subordinate to the state is an absolutely essential strategic advantage that determines the ability to defend one’s territory.” .
The Ministry of Defense also described “partial modifications to the original specification” of the CV90, citing information and communications technology upgrades derived from lessons learned from “ongoing conflicts”. No further information was provided.
“We can unequivocally confirm that in all major respects, the Army will receive vehicles that will fully meet the capability requirements and also the requirements of NATO’s capability objectives,” the statement added. “Many states are accelerating their armament programs or requesting the delivery of complex weapons systems. Therefore, there have been partial changes in deliveries. However, the military will still receive the first parts of BVP in 2026”.
Meanwhile, the CV90 IFVs are one step closer to engaging with the Russian armed forces as the platforms continue to arrive in Ukraine by train following donations from Norway and Sweden. Over the past few days, social media channels have been reporting their progress through Germany and Slovakia en route to Ukraine.
CV90s are expected to play a role in the long-awaited “spring offensive” in Ukraine. Ukrainian military personnel have already conducted CV90 training in Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden, defense sources confirmed to Breaking Defense.
To support the deployment of the CV90, Ukraine has also been an active “guest” member of the CV90 “user club” for the past year, the sources added. The user club, which is led by customers, meets twice a year with additional working groups that discuss system maintenance, repair and overhaul, and development, including lethality and survivability.
Defense sources associated with the Ukraine war expressed the belief to Breaking Defense that the CV90 could be “operational within days” in Ukraine.
The Swedish government has also said it will assist Ukraine in purchasing additional CV90s in the future. “Talks are ongoing,” another defense source told Breaking Defense.
There has also been speculation that the Czech Republic was considering donating 36 CV90s to Ukraine. However, defense sources suggested that this will not happen and that the Czech Ministry of Defense will continue to donate its own BMP-2 platforms and retain control of the CV90s in its own inventory.
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