Defence Forces upgrade infantry fighting vehicles at cost of €33m

The Ministry of Defence has authorised the Defence Forces to sign an agreement with BAE Systems Hägglunds Ab, Sweden, to implement a mid-life extension of the Army's infantry fighting vehicles CV9030, said the ministry in a press release on Wednesday.

The prototype and test series will be upgraded first while the remaining life-cycle upgrades will be carried out in 2022.

The Army procured the infantry fighting vehicles between 2002 and 2007, and the agreement will ensure their usability and lifecycle until 2035.

The supplier is obliged to have the assembly work of the serial production phase carried out by a Finnish subcontractor.

This will strengthen the domestic security of supply. The domestic employment effect will be approximately 23 person-years.

The overall value of the procurement with options is about EUR 33 million excluding value added tax.

The procurement will be financed by the funds for defence materiel procurement that are budgeted for this purpose.