At a meeting on 28 June, the Slovak Government approved a proposal for the purchase of 152 CV9035 MkIV tracked armoured vehicles with a 35mm gun under an intergovernmental agreement with Sweden. According to the results of the tender, the Slovak Ministry of Defence recommended that the CV90 MkIV infantry fighting vehicle with a 35 mm cannon be awarded first place. Second place went to the CV90 MkIV with a 30mm cannon, third to the Lynx KF41 and fourth to the ASCOD.

Picture: At a meeting on 28 June, the Slovak Government approved a proposal for the purchase of 152 CV9035 MkIV tracked armoured vehicles with a 35mm gun under an intergovernmental agreement with Sweden. (illustration photo) | BAE Systems

A panel of 60 experts from various ministries participated in the evaluation of the proposals. The Ministry of Defence's proposal passed the inter-ministerial review. The materials were submitted to the Ministry of Finance for consideration. The next stage of the project will be the preparation of an intergovernmental agreement between Slovakia and Sweden and its approval by both parties. The advantages of acquiring infantry fighting vehicles in this format include the reliability of delivery of the purchased equipment, the possibility of deeper military cooperation and the deepening of the strategic partnership.

The total estimated cost of the vehicle acquisition, including estimated infrastructure costs, is approximately €1.688 billion including VAT. The main subcontractor of BAE Systems Hägglunds will be the Slovak state-owned enterprise ZTS-SPECIBL and other Slovak state and private companies will also benefit from the project in the long term.

The CV9035 from BAE Systems Hägglunds will gradually replace the obsolete infantry armoured vehicles in the armament of the Slovak Land Forces and, together with the 8x8 wheeled armoured vehicles, this purchase will be an important step towards the creation of a Slovak heavy mechanised brigade in line with the country's NATO commitments.

The Slovak Armed Forces intend to purchase 152 armoured vehicles in the first stage, including 110 in combat version, 15 command vehicles, 9 reconnaissance vehicles, 3 vehicles for sniper groups (anti-material rifles), 9 vehicles for grenade launcher groups, 3 recovery vehicles and 3 repair vehicles. In the second phase, a total of 71 vehicles are planned to be purchased - 5 combat vehicles, 10 recovery vehicles, 9 repair vehicles, 9 engineer demining vehicles, 9 engineer minelaying vehicles, 9 engineer support vehicles and 20 units of 120mm self-propelled mortars.

Delivery of the first combat vehicles for testing is expected to be completed between 2023 and 2024. 
The new IFVs are expected to be part of a heavy mechanised brigade to be created as part of Slovakia's commitment to its NATO allies.

The Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic has sent out requests for proposals for the delivery of the new tracked infantry fighting vehicle to 33 countries. Four bidders participated in the tender: BAE Systems Hägglunds with the CV90 armoured vehicle (CV9030 MkIV and CV9035 MkIV versions), General Dynamics European Land Systems Santa Bárbara Sistemas with the ASCOD vehicle, Rheinmetall with the Lynx KF41 vehicle and PAG with the Borsuk vehicle. After a preliminary evaluation, the first three types were shortlisted and underwent further tests based on the Military Technical Testing Institute. A specially formed committee then evaluated the submitted proposals and recognised the CV9035 MkIV armoured fighting vehicle from BAE Systems Hägglunds as the best solution.