Sweden Will Build CV90 Prototypes for Its Fleet Renewal

Why It Matters

Extending the CV90’s lifespan secures Sweden’s mechanised infantry capability while integrating next‑generation weapons to counter evolving aerial threats, reinforcing NATO’s collective defence posture in the region.

Key Takeaways

• FMV awarded $37.5M to HB Utveckling for prototypes
• Life‑extension aims to keep CV90s operational until 2045
• New CV9035 MkIIIC features 35 mm Bushmaster III cannon
• EW Störpbv 90 prototype could provide anti‑drone capability
• Sweden will deploy Lvkv 90 SHORAD units to Latvia

Pulse Analysis

Sweden’s decision to fund a $37.5 million prototype programme underscores a broader European trend of extending the service lives of legacy combat platforms. By partnering with HB Utveckling—a joint venture of BAE Systems Hagglunds and Bofors—the Defence Materiel Administration ensures that the CV90 family, with roughly 500 units in active service, remains a viable component of mechanised infantry battalions through 2045. The contract not only funds engineering work but also secures a domestic supply chain, reducing reliance on foreign upgrades and preserving critical industrial expertise.

The modernization push centers on the CV9035 MkIIIC, which replaces the long‑standing 40 mm Bofors gun with a 35 mm Bushmaster III cannon. This shift delivers higher ammunition capacity, programmable airburst rounds, and improved lethality against drones and entrenched infantry. Simultaneously, Sweden is revisiting the Störpbv 90 electronic‑warfare variant, originally shelved for budget reasons, to embed radio‑frequency jamming and counter‑UAS sensors. Such capabilities align with a growing market demand for modular, short‑range air‑defence and C‑UAS solutions, as seen at recent defence exhibitions where lighter, more agile platforms are gaining traction.

Operationally, the upgraded CV90 fleet will support Sweden’s contribution to NATO’s multinational brigade in Latvia, where Lvkv 90 SHORAD units will provide layered air defence against a rising drone threat. Deploying these assets not only replaces aging systems slated for retirement in 2026 but also signals a commitment to collective security in the Baltic region. The programme’s dual focus on life‑extension and cutting‑edge capability upgrades positions Sweden as a proactive player in Europe’s defence modernization, potentially influencing neighboring countries to adopt similar upgrade pathways.