Czechs drop $2.2B on CV90 infantry fighting vehicles; Ukraine ‘days’ from getting them

BRNO, Czech Republic — It’s proving to be an important week for the CV90 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), with a new customer buying in and the vehicles going “operational” in Ukraine within the coming days.

On May 24, the Czech Republic’s government confirmed it had successfully completed negotiations with its Swedish counterpart and BAE Systems Hägglunds to procure 246 MkIV CV90s.

The contract, valued at $2.2 billion, will include seven different variants of the CV90. One hundred forty of the platforms — the majority of the buy — are expected to be IFV variants featuring Hägglunds’ D-Series turret with a 30 millimeter cannon. A total of 10 vehicles will be delivered to the Czech Ministry of Defense (MoD) in 2026 with remaining platforms supplied through to 2030, company officials confirmed.

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According to a company statement from BAE Systems Hägglunds, the CV90 MkIV will provide the Czech MoD with “superior tactical and strategic capabilities to target a wide range of ground and airborne targets, and exceptional resilience in any terrain and tactical environment.”

The MkIV has a gross vehicle weight of 37 tons, an increase of two tons in payload over legacy models. It also features electronic architecture NGVA Standard to support future upgrades. Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland already operate the platform, and the CV90 has also been purchased by Slovakia, although platforms have yet to enter service.

Defense sources indicated to Breaking Defense the Czech IFVs could also feature Elbit Systems’ Iron Fist Active Protection System (APS) and Rafael Spike LR anti-tank guided munitions (ATGMs).

Czech CV90s will be delivered to the armed forces in partnership with local industry which will deliver 40 percent of “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 MoD statement regarding the contract stated: “The conflict in Ukraine has shown that having companies with these capabilities on its territory and subordinate to the state is an absolutely essential strategic advantage that determines the ability to defend one’s own territory.”

The MoD also described “partial modifications to the original specification” of the CV90, citing information technology and communications upgrades arising from lessons learned from “ongoing conflicts”. No further information was made available.

“We can unequivocally confirm that in all major aspects, the army will receive vehicles that will fully meet the capability requirements and will also meet the requirements of the NATO Capability Targets,” the statement added. “Many states are accelerating their armament programs or requesting deliveries of complex weapons systems. There have therefore been partial shifts in deliveries. Nevertheless, the army will still receive the first pieces of BVP in 2026.”

Meanwhile, CV90 IFVs are a step closer to engaging with Russian armed forces as platforms continue to make their way to Ukraine by train following donations from the likes of Norway and Sweden. Over the past several days, social media channels have reported their progress through Germany and Slovakia en route to Ukraine.

CV90s are expected to play a part in the long-awaited ”spring offensive” in Ukraine. Ukrainian military personnel have already undertaken training on CV90s in Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden, defense sources confirmed to Breaking Defense.

To support the deployment of CV90, Ukraine has also been an active “guest” member of the CV90 “user club” over the past year, sources added. The user club, which is customer-led, meets twice a year with additional break-out working groups discussing maintenance, repair and overhaul and system development including lethality and survivability.

Defense sources associated with the war in Ukraine expressed a belief to Breaking Defense that CV90 could be “operational in days” in Ukraine.

The Swedish government has also said it will assist Ukraine in the procurement of additional CV90s in the future. “Conversations are ongoing,” another defense source informed Breaking Defense.

There has also been speculation the Czech Republic was considering the donation of 36 CV90s to Ukraine. However, defense sources suggested this will not happen and the Czech MoD will instead continue to donate their own BMP-2 platforms and maintain control of CV90s in their own inventory.