Slovak Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď and Czech Defence Minister Jana Černochová signed an agreement on cooperation to procure and operate the CV90 MkIV tracked infantry fighting vehicles from Sweden’s BAE Systems Hägglunds during the Slovak International Air Fest on 27 August.
The procurement of 152 CV90 MkIV tracked infantry fighting vehicles, fitted with a turret-mounted 35mm cannon, through a Government-to-Government (G2G) agreement with the Kingdom of Sweden was approved at the end of June 2022.
The CV90 MkIVs will replace the SVK Army’s fleet of half-a-century-old tracked IFV vehicles.
Along with the Patria 8×8 wheeled armoured fighting vehicles (AFV), they are the key to delivering Slovakia’s protection and defence and a significant step forward in the standup of the Heavy Mechanised Brigade – the biggest commitment Slovakia has ever made to NATO under the NATO Capability Targets.
Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “The Czech Republic, just as the Slovak Republic, has been addressing the need for replacement of its obsolete BVP-1 and BVP-2 IFVs for new tracked armoured fighting vehicles that are compliant with NATO standards, as are with the operational requirements of todayʼs battlefield for firepower, mobility and crew protection. Slovakia has made progress in its negotiations with the vehicle manufacturer and the Czech Republic will join this process.”
Czech Defence Minister Jana Černochová said: “We agreed this was the best way ahead for both countries. Given the benefit in the form of lower prices and the fact that more such vehicles will be in the region, we can join forces in contracting companies to deliver maintenance & repair services for the vehicles and to produce spare parts, so we can work together to implement the programme. That all comes part and parcel within our agreement. What matters to our country is not only the number of vehicles, but also the price, the speed of delivery, and local industrial content.”
Combat Vehicle 90 (CV90)
| Type: | Infantry fighting vehicle |
| Country of origin: | Sweden |
| Designer: | Hägglunds/Bofors |
| Manufacturer: | BAE Systems AB |
| Produced: | 1993 – present |
| In service: | 1993 – present |
| Operators: | Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland |
| Weight: | 23–37 tonnes |
| Length: | 6.55 m |
| Width: | 3.1 m |
| Height: | 2.7 m |
| Crew: | 3 (commander, gunner, driver) + 8 passengers |
| Main armament: | 40mm Bofors L/70 autocannon; 35mm/50 Bushmaster autocannon; 30mm Bushmaster autocannon |
| Secondary armament: | 7.62 mm Ksp m/39 machine gun; 6 × 76 mm grenade launchers |
| Engine: | Scania DS14 14 litres diesel I6; DC16 16 litres diesel V8 engine 550–1000 hp (410–745 kW) 3,055 Nm max |
| Range: | 320 km (200 mi) + |
| Speed: | 70 km/h (43 mph) + |
