IAV 2023: Sweden plans two brigades for expeditionary operations

Swedish Army CV90 IFVs in Afghanistan. (Försvarsmakten)

Sweden is planning two brigades for expeditionary operations, Janes learnt at Defence iQ's International Armoured Vehicles (IAV) 2023 conference held in London from 23 to 26 January.

The two brigades would rotate on deployments and the Swedish Army plans to recruit more contract soldiers to retain their readiness.

The brigades would be equipped with CV90 infantry fighting vehicles (IFV), whose low profile allows them to be railed through train tunnels at a high speed, a BAE Systems Hägglunds spokesperson told Janes on 24 January.

The CV90 is designed to operate in all kinds of terrain, including in subarctic conditions at temperatures as low as -46° C.

Sweden has 500 CV90s, 50 of which it is reportedly donating to Ukraine.

Swedish Army plans call for its CV90s to be upgraded, with the next generation of the IFV to have a turret similar to that of the mid-life upgrade of the CV9035NL, and for the installation of a diesel-electric engine in its hull, Janes learnt at IAV 2023.