First turret completed for upgraded Dutch CV90

The first upgraded Dutch CV90 with a redesigned turret left the BSH plant in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, on 26 September. (Dutch MoD)

The first-of-type (FOT) upgraded Dutch CV90 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) left the BAE Systems Hägglunds (BSH) plant in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, on 26 September, the Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on its website on the same day.

A BSH spokesperson told Janes on 30 September that the first turret for the Dutch CV90 mid-life upgrade (MLU) was completed on time and budget according to plan. On 3 October he added that testing is now beginning, leading up to the test readiness review and ending with a final design review in December 2023.

This will be followed by serial production according to the originally agreed timeline, the BSH spokesperson said. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026, according to the Dutch MoD.

The MLU to extend the IFV's service life to 2039 is focused on the turret, which the BSH spokesperson said “is completely redesigned, successfully retaining a lower signature while at the same time significantly improving the ergonomics and space for the crew while adding several new subsystems”. The MLU includes the installation of a Spike anti-tank guided missile launcher and the Iron Fist active protection system, among other capabilities. Under the MLU, the IFV's 35 mm gun main armament has been moved forward, improving ergonomics by sitting the crew next to each other rather than being separated by the gun. In addition to giving the crew more room to move in the turret, the vehicle can also carry more directly available rounds for the main gun, providing greater flexibility in the mix of armoured piercing and airburst munitions the vehicle can carry.