CV 90 Design
Various customer requirements have led to several generations of CV90 where major differences are survivability and the electronic architecture. With higher protection follows higher curb weight, and the vehicle combat weight has risen from 23 to 35 tonnes. Power-to-weight ratio has remained approximately the same with increasingly stronger diesel engines. The track suspension system has seen upgrades in several stages. The Mk III version has a digital electronic architecture with several different CAN-buses and digital networks, and is the first IFV to boast an automatic Defensive Aid Suite (DAS) which classifies threats and in automatic mode can fire smoke and/or the main gun in suitable directions as well as instruct the driver. At the Eurosatory 2010 exhibition a version called Armadillo was presented. The Armadillo shown was in Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) version that shows how flexible the original platform is, and with a bolted roof several other roles (like ambulance, control vehicle or other turreted versions) are easy to create.
| Combat Vehicle 90 (9040A) | |
|---|---|
 A Strf9040A in Swedish service | |
| Type | Infantry fighting vehicle |
| Place of origin |  Sweden |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1993-present |
| Wars | War in Afghanistan United Nations Mission in Liberia |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Hägglunds/Bofors |
| Manufacturer | BAE Systems Hägglunds |
| Number built | Over 1,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 23-35 tonnes (Mk0 to MkIII) |
| Length | 6.55 m |
| Width | 3.1 m |
| Height | 2.7 m |
| Crew | 3 (commander, gunner, driver) 7 troopers |
| | |
| Primary armament | 40mm Bofors Autocannon, 30mm Bushmaster Cannon (MkI & MkII export model) or 35/50 mm Bushmaster Cannon (MkIII export model) |
| Secondary armament | 7.62 mm Browning machine gun |
| Engine | Scania DSI 14 litres or DSI 16, V8 Diesel 550-810 hp (410- 595 kW) 2300 nm |
| Power/weight | 24.1 hp/tonne |
| Transmission | Automatic |
| Suspension | torsion bar |
| Operational range | 320 km |
| Speed | 70 km/h |
CV 90 Protection
The basic armor of the CV9040 provides all-round protection against 14.5 mm armour-piercing rounds. Armour protection over the frontal arc is classified but all models from CV9040B and later are said to be protected against 30 mm APFSDS. Some variants, including the CV9030N, can be fitted with MEXAS, a ceramic appliqué armor which provides all-round protection against 30 mm APFSDS. This armour kit is intended to provide increased protection against Improvised explosive device, Explosively formed penetrator and 30 mm caliber armour piercing rounds. All CV90s are fitted with a Kevlar spall suppression liners which cover the interior spaces and provide protection for the troops inside against shrapnel and anti-personnel artillery munition.
The CV90 can be also fitted with cage armour, which provides protection against tandem-charge and shaped charge warheads. The CV90 is fitted with a nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) filtration system accompanied with a chemical detector and radiation detector systems. The CV90 also use an heat-absorbing filters to provide temporary protection against thermal imaging (TIS), image intensifier and infrared camera (IR). The CV 90 was designed to produce a very low and very compact structure and minimized radar and IR-signatures.
With every generation of CV90 there has been an increase in payload and corresponding protection levels. The inherent mine protection levels have risen substantially to presently defeat the heaviest (10 kg TNT) anti-tank mines.
CV 90 Mobility
The CV90 Mk0 is powered by a DSI14 developed by Scania, which provides 550 horse power (HP) and it can reach speeds of 70 kilometers per hour. The basic CV90 has a maximum road range of 320 kilometers but the latest generation can reach up to 600 kilometers. The CV90 offers quieter movement for improved stealth, greater speed over good terrain, and higher ground clearance for protection against mines and improvised explosive devices.
CV 90 Armament
The basic CV90 is fitted with a two-man turret, armed with Bofors 40 mm caliber gun and coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun. One more 5.56 mm or 7.62 mm machine gun is positioned on top of the turret. The CV90 also carries eight 76-mm grenades in two clusters of four launchers positioned on each side of the turret. The grenade launchers are intended for smoke grenades.
Sight
The CV90 is equipped with a daytime optical, Thermal Imaging System (TIS) and Generation III Image Intensification (II).
Production
Production of the CV 90 began in 1993, and over 1,000 vehicles have been ordered. In November 2000, Finland ordered 57 CV9030 vehicles. Total cost was €250 million (in 2008 euros), or €4.42 million per vehicle. In June 2004 Finland made another purchase, bringing the overall quantity ordered to 102. This time the cost was €2.92 million (in 2008 euros) per vehicle. In December 2005, Denmark ordered 45 CV9035 vehicles for a cost of €188 million or €4.18 million per vehicle.
CV 90 Variants
- CV9040: The original model with a 40 mm Bofors autocannon. Used by Sweden
- CV9040B: Updated CV90 with fully stabilized gun, although elevation suffers because of this. Used by Sweden
- CV9040C: Version for International Operations with additional all-round armour and tropical climate kit. Used by Sweden
- CV9030: Export version with a 30 mm Bushmaster II autocannon. Adopted by Norway, Switzerland and Finland.Within BAE Systems Hägglunds, the Norwegian CV9030N are generally known as the CV90 Mk I while the more advanced Finnish CV9030FIN and Swiss CV9030CH vehicles are known as the CV90 MK II.
- CV9035: Armed with a Bushmaster III 35/50 cannon. Adopted by the Netherlands as CV9035NL and Denmark as CV9035DK. Within BAE Systems Hägglunds CV9035 is known as the CV90 MK III.
- CV90105: 105 mm Rifled tank gun/turret. Designed by Hägglunds (BAE Systems) and GIAT (Nexter).
- CV90120-T: Equipped with tank turret and smoothbore 120 mm gun. (120 mm Gun select as Rheinmetall or IWI.)
- CV9040 AAV (TriAD): Anti-Air Vehicle, fitted with radar and 40 mm autocannon. Can also elevate its cannon higher than CV9040
- CV90: Command Vehicle.
- CV90: Forward Observation Vehicle, more advanced IR sensor fitted.
- CV90: Armored Recovery Vehicle. (BgBv90 Swedish army designation)
- CV9056: Prototype version equipped with the Bofors RB56 anti-tank missile. No units ordered.
- Armadillo: Armoured Personnel Carrier version built on a modular CV90 Mk III chassis
The forward observation, command and recovery vehicles are armed only with a machine gun.
The CV 90 has also been fitted with the advanced mortar system under the name Grkpbv 90120 (granatkastarpansarbandvagn, "tracked armoured mortar vehicle") or formerly SSG 120 (Splitterskyddad granatkastare, "lightly armoured mortar"). The vehicle is a project between Hägglunds and Patria, and is still under development.
Sweden originally planned for a mix of CV9040 and CV9025, tests of the 25 mm turret being carried out on on an Ikv 91 chassis, but finally decided on the 40 mm version, due to the much higher potential of the larger calibre.
Combat service
With production having begun in 1993, the CV90 had remained untested in live combat until November 2007, when Norwegian Army CV90s from 2nd Battalion saw heavy combat during Operation Harekate Yolo in Afghanistan. During the first week of November, Norwegian ISAF forces from 2nd Battalion and Kystjegerkommandoen based in Mazar-e-Sharif, responded to a Taliban attack on Afghan National Army forces in the Ghowrmach district. Having been heavily outnumbered by the Taliban forces, the Norwegians used mortars and, in particular, CV90s, to effectively beat down the attack. The operation left an unknown number of Taliban casualties, but Norwegian news sources say as many as 45 to 65 Taliban forces may have been killed, and many more wounded.
The CV90 was later used extensively by ISAF-forces of the Norwegian Army's Telemark Battalion in May 2008, when the battalion, during Operation Karez in the Badghis Province, came under heavy machine gun and RPG fire from Taliban fighters. The attack left 13 Taliban fighters dead, and unknown number of wounded. No allied casualties were reported.
In January 2010, a Norwegian soldier driving a CV9030 was killed when it drove over an IED in Ghowrmach, Afghanistan.
Swedish CV90s have also seen service in Liberia. As of the spring of 2009, Sweden operates 4 CV9040s in Afghanistan. Swedish CV90s have seen combat with insurgents on at least two occasions.
In February 2010 Denmark sent 10 CV9035DK's to Afghanistan in order to bolster their contingent in Helmand Province. The Danish contingent has suffered numerous casualties since they began operations in the province in the autumn of 2006. The vehicles are from the Danish Royal Lifeguard Regiment, based in the Northern part of Seeland. They are working alongside with MOWAG Piranha IIIC, MOWAG Eagle IV, M113 G3DK and Leopard 2A5DK, all contributed by Denmark, in the Helmand Province. By April 2010 two of the ten vehicles have been hit with IEDs, in both cases protecting the crew and passengers of personal injury. The vehicles lost two wheels and tracks, and were sent back to the manufacturer in Sweden for further investigation. On the 7th of August 2010, a CV9035DK hit an IED in Afghanistan. 2 were killed and 3 wounded. The explosion was so powerful the vehicle was turned over.
CV-90 Operators
Denmark: 45 CV9035DK.
Finland: 102 CV9030FIN (57 first batch, 45 second batch).
Netherlands: 192 CV9035NL (Initial order of 184 vehicles raised to 192. Deliveries will be completed by 2011.)
Norway: 104 CV9030N. 17 of these have been upgraded with air-condition, additional mine protection and rear-view cameras, and are designated CV9030NF1.
Switzerland: 186 CV9030CH- Sweden: 509 vehicles, including 42 CV9040C with additional armour.
Canada: 1 CV9035 Mark III
United Kingdom
