TechDenmark's $400M Deal with BAE: A Leap into Future Warfare with CV9035DK Upgrades
Denmark's $400M Deal with BAE: A Leap into Future Warfare with CV9035DK Upgrades
On March 21, BAE Systems and the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization (Forsvarets Materiel- og Indkøbsstyrelse, FMI) finalized an agreement to refurbish 43 CV9035DK infantry fighting vehicles. This initiative, part of a mid-life upgrade (MLU) scheduled within a framework agreement valued at about USD 400 million, aims to enhance these vehicles' capabilities for future combat scenarios.
The CV9035DK crew can conduct fire in hunter-killer mode, and the relatively easy exchange of the barrel for a 50-millimeter one will allow for an increase in firepower.
This undertaking will not merely replace worn-out components but will also focus on equipping the vehicles with advanced combat capabilities to ensure their competitiveness on future battlefields.
This is to be a very modern design
The upgrade includes the installation of the latest series D turret equipped with a Northrop Grumman / ATK Bushmaster III 35-millimeter cannon. This addition is expected to offer the CV9035 crews improved protection and heightened situational awareness, aided by cutting-edge sensors and augmented reality technologies. These enhancements will not only boost the vehicles’ combat efficiency but also improve ergonomics and crew survivability.
While it remains uncertain if the Danish CV9035s will be outfitted with an active protection system, the new turret design paves the way for such upgrades. The Iron Fist system from Israeli firm Elbit Systems is among the potential options. Beyond the active protection discourse, the deal stipulates the installation of launchers for anti-tank guided missiles, with the Akeron MP missiles by MBDA being the probable choice.
And what exactly will change?
The CV90 family has been capable of integrating anti-tank guided missile launchers since December 2022. A successful test launch of the Akeron MP missile from the vehicle was conducted by BAE Systems Hägglunds and MBDA France, marking a significant enhancement. Weighing 33 pounds, the missile system is capable of striking targets up to 3.1 miles away without direct line of sight.
Additionally, the CV9035DK will be fitted with composite tracks, reducing the vehicle’s weight - which could allow for added armaments or active protection systems - and decreasing both noise emissions and vibration, contributing to reduced crew fatigue and better overall health outcomes for soldiers.
Improvements in crew situational awareness, crucial for their safety, will also be part of the upgrade. A Defense Aid Suite sensor kit will be installed. These modifications, which will be implemented between 2026 and 2029 with significant involvement from local defense sector companies, will enhance the efficiency of the Army’s mechanized infantry units.
Denmark is not the first
The Royal Danish Land Forces will follow in the footsteps of Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland in benefiting from the CV90 vehicle's modernization under the MLU agreement. Denmark's modernization effort will leverage extensive experience in operating and developing these vehicles, as well as insights from previous upgrades by other countries and analyses from the CV90 Users Club.
General Kim Jesper Jørgensen, director of FMI, expressed great satisfaction with the modernization contract, emphasizing the anticipated improvements in protection, combat effectiveness, and availability of the CV90 fleet, echoed by Tommy Gustafsson-Rask, managing director of BAE Systems Hägglunds.
CV9035DK possess significant combat potential
In 2016, BAE Systems secured a contract to equip the CV9035DK with a battle management system. Denmark had previously acquired 45 CV90 Mk III vehicles in 2005, noting their enhanced mobility and upgraded systems, including a powerful Scania DI16 engine.
The vehicle's combat capabilities are anchored by the versatile Bushmaster III 35 mm cannon, which can potentially be upgraded to a 50-millimeter variant. The ammunition system supports both anti-tank and programmable rounds.
The more you eat, the bigger your appetite gets
To date, BAE Systems Hägglunds has sold 1,700 CV90 vehicles in 17 different variants, marking its popularity among European defense forces, including eight NATO members, with recent additions like the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The Swedish Army has hinted at supporting the development of a new CV90 generation between 2023 and 2027, with potential purchases by Stockholm by 2034. Denmark might follow suit, attracted by the possibility of reduced long-term logistical costs and benefits in crew and vehicle maintenance training.
The near future promises significant decisions for Copenhagen as it juggles ongoing modernization efforts with the potential acquisition of new infantry fighting vehicles.
