DSEI 2023: CV90 IFVs see combat in Ukraine

CV9040 IFVs donated by Sweden to Ukraine have been seeing combat. (BAE Systems Hägglunds)

Janes has learned some details of the combat performance of Ukrainian CV90 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) donated by Sweden. The IFV is seeing its first high-intensity combat in Ukraine.

Previously, Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish CV90s had been in combat, mainly in Afghanistan but also in Liberia, Dan Lindell, CV90 platform manager at BAE Systems Hägglunds, told journalists on the first day of DSEI 2023, held from 12 to 15 September in London.

In Ukraine, the CV90's 40 mm gun is proving to be lethal, and even though it is an older version of the vehicle, it is equipped with modern sensors and has a night-time capability that is being used in Ukraine. Its mobility and protection are also having an impact, with no Ukrainian crew members or embarked infantry losing their lives despite three CV90s having suffered battle damage.

However, the CV90s face logistics challenges, and their Barracuda camouflage nets were initially placed incorrectly on the vehicles.

Ukraine will become the tenth member of the CV90 user group in a year after it spends two meetings as an observer, with the first one it attends possibly being on sustainment and logistics. The Czech Republic and Slovakia, the latest countries to order the CV90, are also observers, and Denmark, Estonia, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland are full members.

The Swedish Army has been supporting Ukraine with training and advice on the CV90s.

UK and Swedish media reported on 18–19 May that 3,000–5,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been trained in Sweden on the CV90, Leopard 2 main battle tank, and Archer self-propelled howitzer. Images of 25 CV9040s being railed through Slovakia, 100 km from Ukraine, were posted on social media on 25 May.