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BAE Systems Australia has confirmed that its contender for the LAND 400 Phase 3 Mounted Close Combat Capability request for tender will be the combat-proven CV90 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV).
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The project team will be led by BAE Systems’ Sweden-based combat vehicles business and supported by BAE Systems Australia. Advanced and highly-versatile, the CV90 uses the latest technology to keep soldiers safe. BAE Systems has continuously developed the CV90 to meet new customer requirements and future operational threats.
A total of 1,280 CV90s are in service with seven nations – including four NATO members – and the vehicle is available in 15 variants. Designed to deliver the best capability for the Australian Army, CV90s are already operational with militaries in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
Tommy Gustafsson-Rask, vice president and general manager for BAE Systems Hägglunds, said, "We look forward to demonstrating the vehicle’s unparalleled capabilities and our breadth of operational experience as the Australian Commonwealth considers the LAND 400 Phase 3 competition."
Most recently, BAE Systems successfully completed the latest delivery of 144 CV90s to the Norwegian Army on time in 2018. The CV90 family of vehicles give unrivalled performance in the 20-35 tonne class and have been deployed by national forces, the UN and NATO in missions across the globe, including in Afghanistan.
The CV90 platform is engineered to provide optimum mobility and agility. For ease of deployment, it features a range of land and air transportation options.
According to BAE Systems, the CV90 will provide a number of key advantages over its competitors, including:
- Designed for mobility;
- Flexible firepower packages;
- Survivability focus;
- Industrial collaboration and commitment;
- Through-life commitment;
- Ability to control the battlefield; and
- Operator-centric focus.
CV90 has room for a crew of 11 (three crew, eight troops), a top speed of 70km/h, with an operational range of 900 kilometres and can be armed with a 30mm Bushmaster Cannon, a secondary 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and six 76mm grenade launchers.
"The CV90 has a combat-proven track record, established customer base and future growth potential that will more than satisfy the Commonwealth’s requirements for years to come," Gustafsson-Rask added.
Gabby Costigan, CEO of BAE Systems Australia, welcomed the announcement, saying, "We’re proud to continue our support of the Australian Defence Force with a commitment to the largest land vehicle upgrade in the Army’s history.
"We look forward to working closely with businesses across the country to increase sovereign Australian Industry Capability as important national projects like this develop."
LAND 400 Phase 3 is a $10-15 billion Army program which will recapitalise Army’s Vietnam-era M113 armoured personnel carrier (APC) force, with a combination of a tracked IFV and tracked APC. The broader LAND 400 project will deliver enhanced levels of survivability to the Joint Land Force, including sensors, weapons and information systems that will be networked to strategic intelligence platforms.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
