The Ministries of Defense of the Czech Republic and Slovakia will jointly resolve issues related to the acquisition of CV90 tracked Infantry Fighting Vehicles. For example, they will consult and look for opportunities to involve national defense industries in the development and production of the vehicles.
They will also tune the technical specifications of the acquired vehicles in order to achieve maximum efficiency in the development of new specialized versions of the IFV, according to a joint declaration signed by Czech Defense Minister Jana Černochová and Slovak Defense Minister Jaroslav Naď today, during the SIAF 2022 International Aviation Days in Malacky (Slovakia).
"Specifically, this means coordinating the procedure for the acquisition and subsequent operation of the CV90 tracked infantry fighting vehicles in many areas - technical, industrial and legal," noted Minister of Defense Jana Černochová. "For the future, the declaration gives us better opportunities for cooperation, production and development of spare parts, joint training, sharing capacities and capabilities. We thereby strengthen our defense capability. And it will also lead to a gradual reduction in operating costs," Černochová added.
According to Jaroslav Naď, this is a project that is unique in terms of size for both countries. "We have found a solution that is very interesting for our soldiers, because if we get it done, they will have the same technology on which they can work together, train together and be deployed together."
Cooperation can also take place in the area of the actual operation of infantry fighting vehicles. This concerns the maintenance of operability or the supply of spare parts. The two ministries also want to explore the possibilities of cooperation in the exercises of military units armed with the same types of IFV and intend to mutually share information on the experience of operating IFVs in both armies.
On July 20, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala instructed Minister Černochová to take the necessary steps to cancel the then still ongoing tender for new IFVs. He also instructed the minister to start the process of awarding a new contract by approaching the Swedish government with a request for Swedish CV90 infantry fighting vehicles. The Slovaks had also decided on the same vehicle a month earlier.
In the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic, these vehicles will replace the outdated combat vehicle used up to now. The Czech army requires 210 tracked infantry fighting vehicles, and our neighbors 152 units.
The new IFV will become the backbone of the heavy mechanized brigade, which the Czech Republic has committed to establishing by 2026. The Swedish CV90 vehicle is an established and battle-tested platform with great potential for further modernization.
(ends)
