Slovakia considers procuring CV90120

Slovakia is considering co-operating with BAE Systems Hägglunds on the CV90120 armoured vehicle. (BAE Systems)

Slovakia is considering co-operating with BAE Systems Hägglunds on the Swedish company's CV90120 armoured vehicle armed with a 120 mm gun, Slovak Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák said during the roll-out ceremony for his country's first CV90 Mk IV infantry fighting vehicle in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, on 20 February. The CV90120 is being considered based on lessons learned from the war in Ukraine and the CV90's suitability for the hilly terrain of eastern Slovakia, according to Kaliňák.

He told Janes that the CV90120 would complement, rather than replace, Slovakia's T-72 and Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks (MBTs) if a decision is made in favour of the Swedish vehicle, which he expected to be taken in the next 12 months. BAE Systems Hägglunds managing director Tommy Gustafsson-Rask told Janes that Slovakia had made a request for information on the CV90120, with a meeting after the Slovak CV90 Mk IV roll-out to discuss the subject.

Weighing up to 38 tonnes, the CV90120 is armed with the Rheinmetall L44A1 high pressure low recoil barrel with a super fast autoloader that can fire all standard NATO 120 mm smoothbore ammunition, including the German company's DM11 three-mode programmable high-explosive and enhanced kinetic energy rounds. The vehicle is also armed with anti-tank guided missiles in bore with a range of 10,000 m and a 7.62 mm remote weapon station, according to BAE Systems.