The Royal Netherlands Army’s first modernised Combat Vehicle 90 (CV90) infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) was rolled out of BAE Systems Hägglunds’ factory in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden on 26 September.
This is the first of 122 CV90s that will undergo a major upgrade and will serve as a test version for series production that is expected to start at the end of 2023.
The mid-life upgrade (MLU) is needed to keep the vehicles operationally relevant until the end of their service life in 2039.
With the changing security situation in recent years and potential enemies becoming significantly stronger the upgrade will increase the capabilities of the IFV.
Various tests will follow with this first vehicle in the coming period to see whether it meets all the requirements. The project should be completed by the end of 2026.
The upgraded IFV will gain more firepower and better protection against any enemy anti-tank missiles.
The latter is due to an active protection system for incoming projectiles that gets a large part of the vehicles.
Other major improvements are the new turret and the relocation of the cannon. This gives the crew more room to move and improves ergonomics in general.
The onboard IT systems are also being overhauled.
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) + |
