Denmark has ordered the defence contractor BAE Systems to upgrade its fleet of CV9035DK infantry fighting vehicles. These vehicles will receive many important upgrades, designed to help them to keep up with the demands of modern warfare.
CV9035DK infantry fighting vehicles are great weapons in the arsenal of the Royal Danish Army and they should continue serving for a couple of decades more.
CV9035DK is a Danish version of the Swedish infantry fighting vehicle CV90. Image credit: Pfc. Shardesia Washington via Wikimedia
The Royal Danish Army uses infantry fighting vehicles CV90. The CV90 ( Combat Vehicle 90 or strf 90) was designed in the late 1980s and entered service in 1994. Although it is technically a Swedish weapon, it is produced by BAE Systems AB, which will upgrade the Danish machines. Denmark is using the CV9035DK, which is an export version of the CV90 with a 35mm Bushmaster III autocannon.
Similar infantry fighting vehicles are used in the Netherlands, where they are designated CV9035NL, but are essentially the same thing. However, the CV9035NL already has a new turret and now the CV9035DK will get it too.
The Bushmaster III is a serious autocannon that fires 200 rounds per minute. The armour of Russian BMPs can be pierced through with no problem whatsoever, and if they hit well (that is, from the side) these rounds can even go through main battle tanks. But still, it’s time to upgrade its turret.
The Danish defence procurement organization DALO commissioned BAE Systems to modernize the fleet of CV9035DK infantry fighting vehicles. Denmark has been using 44 CV9035DKs for about 20 years now and would now like to upgrade them from the ground up. This will be a mid-life update, which could mean that these infantry fighting vehicles will be good for another two decades. War machines last a long time when there is no war.
The main upgrade for the CV9035DKs will be new turrets, but they will also receive lighter and quieter rubber composite tracks, better protection and mobility. The first upgraded infantry fighting vehicles will return to Denmark in 2026, the rest until 2029.
What’s so special about those new turrets? BAE Systems developed them some time ago and Dutch machines already use them. They have many improvements. For example, the position of the main gun has been adjusted to better balance the vehicle and to provide new opportunities to integrate other weapon systems (for example, anti-tank missiles).
According to the manufacturer, the new turret is also more ergonomic for the crew. This should not be overlooked, because soldiers can be more efficient when they are more comfortable.
It is good to remind people that while main battle tanks are great, it is infantry fighting vehicles that perform the majority of the tasks in today’s combat. Denmark has 44 CV9035DKs and 44 Leopard 2A7DK main battle tanks.
Written by Povilas M.
Sources: Tech.wp.pl, Wikipedia