Swedish army braces for next-gen hybrid CV-90 infantry fighting vehicle

Sweden’s armed forces are hoping to adopt a next-generation, potentially hybrid version of the CV-90 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) in “record time” given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, according to the commander of the Swedish Army.

Addressing delegates at the International Armoured Vehicles (IAV) conference in Twickenham, UK last week, Maj. Gen. Karl Engelbrektson said the Swedish Army supported the development of an upgraded CV90 IFV between 2023 and 2027, Breaking Defense reports. Such a development program, he added, could be followed by procurement of an undisclosed number of next-gen CV90 variants through to 2034 “and beyond.”

The Swedish Army currently operates a total fleet of more than 500 BAE-made CV90s in a variety of configurations including Armoured Recovery, Forward Observation, Forward Command, Mortar and Anti-Aircraft variants. In November 2022, the Swedish Army also elected to procure a further pair of new variants in the form of the CV90 Forward Maintenance vehicle and Combat Engineer vehicles.

The tracked IFV has a gross vehicle weight of up to 37 tons and a top speed of 70 kilometres per hour (about 43 miles per hour). CV90s are typically armed with a 30 or 35-mm weapon system, although Sweden uses a 40-mm version. However, the vehicle is weapon-agnostic and is also with a 120mm option.

According to Engelbrektson, a next-gen CV90 will most likely comprise a step-change upgraded variant of the CV9035NL – one of the latest versions of the IFV designed for the Royal Netherlands Army by original equipment manufacturer BAE Systems Hagglunds.

Importantly, the next-gen CV90 would also feature a hybrid electric engine which MG Engelbrektson described as an important requirement for the Swedish Army to support more environmentally friendly peacetime training and combat operations.

“My job as Commander of the Swedish Army is to give clear directions, not least in these times when a sense of urgency and rapid effects is important,” he explained to Breaking Defense after the event.

In October, BAE Systems Hägglunds delivered the first scheduled CV9035NL upgrade to the Royal Netherlands Army, part of a $543 million upgrade program that will retrofit a total of 122 platforms. CV9035NLs are expected to remain in service until at least 2039, according to BAE.

For that vehicle, improvements are focused on enhancing survivability, lethality, ergonomics and combat effectiveness. Specifically, upgrades include the new D-Series turret; fourth-generation digital backbone; more robust cyber security; Elbit Systems’ Iron Fist Active Protection System; a new Electro-Optic Aiming System; and the Spike LR anti-tank guided missile (AGTM).

As for a potential next-gen vehicle, once those are designed and prototyped, they would expect to be demonstrated at the CV90 Users Club, which features senior leadership representation from existing customers including Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and most recently Ukraine. (On Jan. 19, Sweden announced it would be donating a total of 50 CV90 IFVs to the Ukrainian Armed Forces as they continue to conduct full-scale combat operations against Russian armed forces.)