Ukraine plans to establish maintenance facilities for CV90 IFVs

23 January, 2025 Ukrainian military training on CV9040C infantry fighting vehicles in Sweden, 2023. Photo credits: Forsvarsmakten Ukraine, in cooperation with Sweden, plans to organize the repair and maintenance of CV90 infantry fighting vehicles.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported on this. The issue was discussed during a meeting between Deputy Defense Minister Serhiy Boyev and Brigadier General Johan Axelsson, Director of the Technical Systems Test and Evaluation Department of the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV). During the discussions, the Ukrainian and Swedish sides agreed on the details of implementing contracts for producing armored vehicles, particularly Swedish CV90 infantry fighting vehicles.

"It is planned to establish a partnership for the maintenance and repair of these armored vehicles in Ukraine," the Defense Ministry reported.

CV9035 Mk.IIIC infantry fighting vehicle. Photo credits: Netherlands Armed Forces

In early December last year, Sweden and Denmark signed a £2.3 billion contract with BAE Systems Hagglunds to jointly purchase 205 CV9035 Mk.IIIC combat vehicles. The contract stipulates that 115 units will be delivered to Denmark and 50 units to Sweden to replace CV9040C combat vehicles that were transferred to Ukraine from the Swedish Armed Forces' stocks. The remaining 40 vehicles are intended for Ukraine.

Their production was funded by previously allocated financial assistance from Denmark and Sweden. In addition to the combat vehicles themselves, the contract covers technical support, including spare parts, logistics, and training. In June 2024, the Netherlands also decided to invest 400 million euros in a Swedish fund to ensure the production of CV90 combat vehicles for Ukraine.

The first of these vehicles will be delivered in 2026. This investment from the government will also cover the acquisition of a share of the armored vehicles, which are planned to be produced in the Netherlands.

CV90 in the Defense Forces

In February 2023, the Swedish government allocated one of its largest military aid packages to Ukraine, which, for the first time, included CV90 infantry fighting vehicles.

CV90 infantry fighting vehicles of the Ukrainian military. June 2023, Ukraine.

Photo credits: Associated Press

Ukraine was to receive 51 CV9040C armored personnel carriers from Sweden, previously used by Swedish troops in Liberia and Afghanistan. Compared to the standard CV90, the 9040C version has a higher level of protection. Ukrainian crews appreciate these vehicles for their speed, reliability, armor strength, and comfort.

In August 2023, Ukraine and Sweden declared their intentions to jointly produce CV90 infantry fighting vehicles in Ukraine.

Earlier, the Ukrainian side expressed interest in purchasing up to 1,000 of these combat vehicles.