Image: BAE Systems Press Release
BAE Systems Hägglunds has rolled out the first of 152 CV9035 MkIV infantry fighting vehicles for the Slovak Armed Forces, marking one of the country’s most significant defence procurement programmes in decades.
The ceremonial event took place at BAE Systems Hägglunds’ facility in Sweden, with Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson hosting his Slovak counterpart, Robert Kaliňák, alongside senior military officials from both nations. The rollout signals a major step forward in Slovakia’s commitments to NATO and the broader modernisation of its ground forces.
According to BAE Systems, the first vehicles came off the production line in the second half of 2025 and are currently undergoing comprehensive testing in Sweden before delivery. The programme proceeds under a government-to-government agreement between Stockholm and Bratislava.
A Combat-Proven Platform Joins Slovak Service
The CV9035 MkIV is the latest iteration of a well-established infantry fighting vehicle family already serving eight European nations. Slovakia’s variant carries significant firepower and survivability upgrades over earlier models.
The platform mounts a 35mm Bushmaster III cannon and integrates an advanced fire control system built on modern digital architecture. It also features an active protection system and an integrated anti-tank guided missile, broadening its multi-domain battlefield utility.
Survivability receives equal attention. The MkIV delivers enhanced ballistic and mine protection alongside a more powerful engine producing up to 1,000 horsepower. Critically, the vehicle’s open architecture allows operators to integrate new sensors and weapon systems as requirements evolve, extending its operational lifespan and investment value.
Slovak Industry Takes a 40% Stake
The programme carries substantial economic weight for Slovakia’s domestic defence sector. Slovak companies account for more than 40% of the contract’s total value, with nearly 30 firms embedded in the supply chain.
The network expanded significantly in 2025 to include Hriňovské Strojárne, Konštrukta–Defense, MSM Land Systems, S.M.S. spol sro, STV Machinery, and ThyssenKrupp Rothe Erde Slovakia. Technology transfer, facility expansion, and job creation across the region are direct outputs of this industrial cooperation.
Tommy Gustafsson-Rask, Managing Director of BAE Systems Hägglunds, said the programme reflected effective collaboration. “Slovakia has joined the family of nations operating the CV90, a combat-proven platform serving multiple European armies,” he said.
The structure positions Slovak firms to participate in future CV90-related programmes beyond the current national contract, building enduring industrial capability rather than a one-time delivery relationship.
Strategic Context: NATO Readiness and European Cohesion
Slovakia’s CV90 acquisition sits within a wider European trend of ground forces recapitalisation driven by the changed security environment following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The programme directly supports Slovakia’s NATO obligations and aligns Bratislava more closely with allied interoperability standards.
Membership in the CV90 User Club offers Slovakia operational benefits beyond the vehicles themselves. The forum enables the exchange of combat experience, coordinated training and sustainment, and collaborative development of future upgrades — supporting both near-term readiness and long-term capability planning.
With vehicles for two additional NATO and EU member states currently in production at Hägglunds, the CV90 platform continues to expand its footprint as Europe’s infantry fighting vehicle of choice.
Source: BAE Systems Press Release
