The sound of gunfire echoed through the desert wasteland as the Swedish combat unit advanced
deeper into enemy territory on a perilous reconnaissance mission.
But in the middle of the night, just as the infantrymen took a respite, they were startled
by the sound of explosions.
The enemy had found them.
The Swedish soldiers were outnumbered and outgunned, and they quickly found themselves
surrounded by Afghani fighters.
The commander desperately radioed for backup, but he knew it would take some time before
help arrived.
They had to hold out until then.
He then ordered his men to take cover behind the dilapidated buildings of an abandoned
village and return fire.
The enemy unleashed RPGs and heavy machine gun fire, which soon enveloped the soldiers
from every direction.
To make matters worse, they couldn’t determine where the enemy was positioned.
Then, in their darkest hour, a friendly CV90 fighting vehicle arrived.
The sound of its engine thundered over the gunfire, and the soldiers felt a sense of
relief wash over them.
With its groundbreaking array of environmental sensors, the fighting vehicle's operators
immediately pinpointed the enemy's location and targeted them with their 30-millimeter
cannon.
The Swedish soldiers could hear the whistling sound of the rounds as they flew past them
and shredded enemy positions, and the distraction allowed them to launch a decisive counterattack.
The formidable CV90 had averted a possibly lethal ambush, one of many deeds that have
earned it the reputation of being the best infantry fighting vehicle in the world…
A Unique Focus
The CV90 family of vehicles has become one of the most trusted infantry allies for Swedish
and NATO fighters across the world.
Its achievements and remarkable performance can be traced back to its unique design and
the fascinating Swedish outlook regarding weapon and vehicle design.
Since the end of World War 2, Sweden's weapon manufacturing industry has wholly embraced
a unique design philosophy based on defensive features like survivability, adaptability,
and modularity, even at the cost of raw firepower or affordability.
In the 1950s, such philosophy became evident when Swedish engineers realized that most
hits occurred when enemy fire struck the tank's turret; thus, they designed the Stridsvagn
103, the only modern battle tank in the world with no turret and a fixed main gun configuration.
The idea appeared ridiculous at first glance, especially when other nations were building
larger, more prominent turrets capable of carrying immense firepower.
But testing showed the peculiar Swedish tank could outperform many conventional armored
vehicles while having the massive benefit of an extremely low profile that kept the
crew safe from prying eyes.
Although considerably more conventional in design, the CV90 was designed with the same
approach in mind, with their creators focusing on protecting the crew by building a vehicle
with a low profile, high mobility, and maximum crew safeness.
BAE Systems Hägglunds, the manufacturer of the CV90 family of vehicles, has noted repeatedly
that under their philosophy, protection is not the same as survivability.
While their infantry fighting vehicle or IFVs are equipped with a wide array of protection
assets such as thick armor plates and radiation and biological toxicity filters, they designed
the CV90 to have superb survivability as the first priority.
According to their unique perspective, heavy protection is of little use if you can't see
the enemy or respond swiftly to what it does, which translated into the tank’s high mobility,
responsiveness, and speed while wielding maximum environmental awareness.
Inception
During the Cold War in the 1980s, the Swedish Army faced a critical need for highly mobile
vehicles that could provide air defense and anti-tank capabilities while ensuring high
survivability and protection for their infantry.
The stakes were incredibly high, as any delay or misstep in developing these vehicles could
leave the Swedish military vulnerable to potential threats from the ever-expanding Soviet Union.
To address the menace, in 1985, a project group made up of representatives from the
Swedish Armed Forces, the FMV, and the Swedish arms industry stepped up to the challenge
and submitted the design for the Stridsfordon 90.
The combat vehicle was based on a previously scrapped air force concept, and it aimed to
meet all the Army's needs.
However, the project faced numerous obstacles, including technological limitations and budget
constraints.
Even so, the project group managed to surpass the numerous technical and logistical obstacles,
and in 1986, they began constructing the Strf 9040 and Strf 9025 prototypes.
However, the financial pressures forced the team to abandon the 9025 prototypes shortly
before delivery in 1988.
The five Strf 9040 prototypes were tested extensively between 1988 and 1991, and the
project group ordered prototypes for specialized variants, including forward observation, command
and control, and armored recovery vehicles.
Finally, in 1994, the first deliveries of the Stridsfordon 90 began, marking a significant
milestone in the history of the Swedish Army.
Since then, the CV90 has undergone four comprehensive mark shifts that have taken the vehicle from
the CV90 Mark 0 to the CV90 Mark IV.
The significant updates have been possible thanks to the vehicle's formidable performance,
which has led its developers to continue to invest in the project.
Moreover, the CV90 Mk0 won a competition against contemporaries such as the American M2 Bradley,
British FV510 Warrior, and Austro-Spanish ASCOD, immediately earning international attention.
The subsequent overhauls have made the vehicle faster, more maneuverable, and more lethal
thanks to a new Scania 1,000 horsepower engine, an upgraded X300 heavy-duty transmission,
a 35/50-millimeter Bushmaster III cannon, and a wholly modernized weapon control system.
Battlefield Performance
The CV90 fighting vehicle has a rich combat history, having served in numerous conflicts
around the world, and one of its most notable deployments was during the Balkan Wars in
the 1990s.
The Swedish Army deployed their CV90s to Bosnia in 1996 as part of the United Nations peacekeeping
mission.
The vehicles proved highly effective in the challenging terrain, earning praise from their
operators and other military officials.
In 2006, the Norwegian Army deployed its CV90s to Afghanistan as part of the International
Security Assistance Force.
The vehicles performed exceptionally well in the harsh environment, providing troops
with essential fire support and mobility.
Brigadier General Robert Mood, former Norwegian Army Chief, described the vehicle's performance
as: (QUOTE) "The CV90 has been the backbone of our armored units in Afghanistan, and it
has performed well."
The CV90 has also been involved in various training exercises worldwide.
In 2015, the Finnish Army participated in a multinational exercise in Norway, during
which they deployed their CV90s.
The vehicle's incredible set of features really impressed the international military community.
As Finnish Army officer Captain Tommi Lindholm put it: (QUOTE) "The vehicle's capabilities
have been put to the test in demanding terrain and extreme weather conditions, and it has
passed with flying colors."
The CV90's advanced technology and versatility have made it highly sought after by military
forces worldwide, which has led BAE Systems Hägglunds to significantly expand their production
program for the IFV.
With such high demand, the Swedish manufacturer has committed to continuing the evolution
of the combat platform, as the potential it showcases is almost unparalleled.
Even when compared to other top-of-the-line IFVs such as the American Bradley, Russian
BMP-3, German Puma, and Israeli Namer, the CV90's remarkable situational awareness and
survivability have earned the preference of many military factions and strategists who
often rate the vehicle as the best IFV in the planet.
Ultimately, the CV90 has proven itself as a formidable fighting vehicle, earning high
praise from military officials and operators alike.
Its advanced technology, exceptional mobility, and firepower have made it a crucial asset
in several conflicts worldwide.
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