The Czech Republic will buy 246 CV90 combat vehicles from Swedish BAE Systems Hägglunds in Örnsköldsvik in a SEK 22 billion (€2 billion) deal, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration revealed on Wednesday.
For the Czech Republic, this is the largest military purchase in the country’s modern history and among the largest-ever Czech state contracts.
“The first infantry fighting vehicle could arrive in 2026, and by 2030 all the vehicles should be here,” Czech Defence Minister Jana Černochová (ODS, ECR) said.
The agreement will also include intergovernmental cooperation and the integration of Czech industry in the production of vehicles.
Sweden contractually guarantees that the share of Czech companies in production will reach at least 40% of the contract value, otherwise, sanctions will follow. The manufacturer expects to use about 30 Czech companies and has already signed contracts with the main suppliers.
“We welcome another member of the successful CV90 User Group co-operation. When several countries use and develop a system together, it provides great benefits for all users such as increased capability, increased availability, increased opportunities for operational cooperation and all at lower costs”, Joakim Wallin, head of FMV Export Operations, said in a written comment to Swedish broadcaster SVT.
The Czech Republic will be the ninth country to purchase the Combat Vehicle 90 as it is currently available in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland. Sweden has also donated 50 such vehicles to Ukraine.
(Charles Szumski | EURACTIV.com)
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