Slovakia orders CV90s

Slovakia ordered 152 CV90s on 12 December. (BAE Systems)

Slovakia ordered 122 CV90 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and 30 other variants on 12 December, the Slovak Ministry of Defence (MoD) and BAE Systems announced later the same day. The government-to-government agreement, signed in Stockholm by Slovak State Secretary of Defence Marian Majer and his Swedish counterpart, Peter Sandwell, is worth USD1.37 billion and includes training and tactical simulation systems, according to a BAE Systems press release.

A company spokesperson explained to Janes on 13–14 December that the 122 CV90 IFVs ordered include three anti-materiel rifles and nine mortar team carriers – new variants with adaptations making them not much different than the IFV version. The other versions are 15 command-and-control, nine reconnaissance, three armoured recovery, and three armoured engineer vehicles. The Slovak MoD expects deliveries to begin in 2026.

The ministry said on its website on 12 December that contracts were also signed the same day of the industrial workshare between BAE Systems and its main industrial partner, Slovak state company ZTS Špeciál. The CV90s will be produced and delivered in co-operation with ZTS Špeciál, with Slovak state- and privately owned companies producing and supporting the armoured vehicles in the longer term, according to BAE Systems. Slovak Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď expects the CV90 order to ensure “significant long-term profits for dozens of companies in the Slovak defence industry”.