BAE Systems held the official presentation of the CV9035SVK MkIV armored vehicle intended for the Armed Forces of Slovakia.
The ceremony took place at the BAE Systems Hägglunds facility in Örnsköldsvik and marked another milestone in the modernization program of Slovakia’s ground forces.
A video of the presentation was shared on the company’s official X account. According to the Slovak publication Future Army, the event was attended by Sweden’s Minister of Defense, Pål Jonson, Slovakia’s Minister of Defense, Robert Kaliňák, as well as senior representatives of the Slovak Armed Forces.
Contract Includes 152 Vehicles and Significant Local Industrial Participation
Under an intergovernmental agreement between Sweden and Slovakia, Bratislava ordered 152 units of the CV9035SVK MkIV. The program includes strong domestic industry participation: more than 30 Slovak companies are involved in production, accounting for over 40% of the total contract value.
The acquisition is part of a joint initiative announced on August 31, 2022, by the Czech Republic and Slovakia, which communicated the combined purchase of more than 400 CV90 MkIV vehicles. The joint acquisition and operation agreement was signed by then-Czech Defense Minister Jana Černochová and then-Slovak Defense Minister Jaroslav Naď.
Platform Expansion and Possible 120 mm Cannon Version
In addition to producing the CV9035SVK MkIV, Slovak industrial partners are involved in developing future platform upgrades and creating specialized variants.
The Slovak Ministry of Defense is also evaluating the acquisition of the CV90120 version, equipped with a 120 mm cannon, as an alternative to the Leopard 2A8 and K2 Black Panther models, which have already been withdrawn from the national competition.
Local company Koval Systems is developing an automatic loading system for the 120 mm cannon of the CV90120. On September 27, 2024, the company inaugurated a new workshop in the village of Beluša for the production of turrets for Slovakia’s CV90 MkIV infantry fighting vehicles, reinforcing its commitment to technology transfer and industrial autonomy.
The CV90 program represents one of Slovakia’s major investments in modernizing its mechanized forces, enhancing interoperability with European partners, and strengthening the national defense industrial base.
Source and images: BAE Systems Hägglunds X @BAESHagglunds. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
