Fifth Generation MkIV Vehicle Enables iFighting

Aimed squarely at the Czech Army’s ongoing competition to replace its legacy BMP-II infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) fleet, BAE Systems chose the International Armoured Vehicle conference in Twickenham in late January to launch its CV90 MkIV – the fifth generation of the classic and proven platform.

The CV90 IFV is a modern, adaptable, and combat-proven vehicle, with 1,280 vehicles in 15 variants delivered to Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and The Netherlands. The most recent generation of the CV90, undergoing delivery to the Norwegian Army, is one of the most modern IFVs in production anywhere.

The new MkIV offers substantial capability upgrades, including increased drive train capabilities and active damping technology to improve battlefield speeds and handling. The new vehicle also features the latest NATO-standard Electronic Architecture to meet customer demands for sensor integration and the implementation of autonomous systems. A new engine offers up to 1,000 horsepower and the vehicle features an upgraded X300 heavy-duty transmission. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is increased from 35t to 37t, meaning users will benefit from additional payload with no decrease in vehicle agility, while maintaining the same level of protection. This gives users an unrivalled amount of potential for future growth.

The MkIV capability upgrades also enable the full implementation of BAE Systems’ iFighting — or intelligent fighting — concept, the company’s vision for the future complex battlefield. iFighting supports the vehicle’s crew with significantly enhanced situational awareness, aiding the decision-making process. This safeguards the vigilance and endurance of the crew, while ensuring peak performance for the whole system. iFighting provides improved ergonomics, more advanced autonomous support, augmented reality and the possibility of remote operation.

“We are proud and excited to present the next step in the development of CV90,” commented Vice President and General Manager for BAE Systems’ Hägglunds business, Tommy Gustafsson-Rask. “The MkIV will now be available to both current and future users of the CV90, who can take full advantage of this combat-proven vehicle’s ongoing development and benefit from these new capabilities. This approach provides the leading combination of a proven low-risk solution for the most modern IFV for future growth.”

Tim Mahon