Slovakia considers CV90120, Leopards to replace Soviet-era tanks
As Slovakia readies to acquire new battle tanks for its military, the country’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák has announced his ministry is considering the CV90120, a light tracked vehicle, as one of the options.
Meanwhile, local opposition politicians say that, while the vehicle could be an alternative to purchasing main battle tanks, the Slovak defense budget is already strained, and funding for the acquisition is at risk.
Made by BAE Systems Hägglunds, the CV90120 would compete against other tracked vehicles considered by the Slovak ministry, which are said to include new Leopard 2A8 tanks from German manufacturer KNDS or used 2A4s, an older Leopard variant that would be modernized by Slovakia’s defense industry.
Kaliňák claims that buying CV90120s would be significantly less expensive than acquiring Leopard 2A8s, which are pursued by neighboring Czech Republic. Slovakia has not bought new tanks since declaring independence in 1993, and it needs to replace its outdated Soviet-designed T-72M1s. Germany transferred 15 2A4s to Slovakia after the nation donated its BVP-1 infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine.
Jaroslav Naď, Slovakia’s former defense minister who chairs the opposition Demokrati (Democrats) party, told Defense News that, during his term at the ministry, a deal to buy 152 CV90 MkIV vehicles was signed, and Bratislava started to analyze the potential benefits of using the same platform to cover light tank needs.
“The CV90120 is an interesting offer because it uses the same platform as the CV90 that Slovakia will operate, but has a different cannon. However, it is a light vehicle, as opposed to the heavy Leopard tank which weighs around twice as much,” Naď said.
“The CV90120 would be cheaper than new Leopard 2A8s, but not by as much as Kaliňák claims,” he added. “Slovakia’s defense budget is already undermined by cuts and inefficient spending on construction projects outside the ministry’s scope.”
The cuts could amount to €700 million, or $718 million, in 2025, Naď said, citing documents released by the government’s Finance Ministry.
https://www.defensenews.com/global/euro ... era-tanks/
Letztes Jahr wurde angekündigt, dass der CV90120 nun mit einer
Rheinmetall L44A1 statt mit der originalen RUAG Compact Tank Gun realisiert werden soll:
Eurosatory 2024: ‘The time is now’ for an updated CV90120, says BAE Systems
Regarding additional upgrades to the vehicle, Turkcan said, “What we’re also working on is releasable fuel barrels to give you additional strategic range. We can add any type of sensors, of course, in the future, but let’s be honest: it’s all about the gun, so we’re looking together with Rheinmetall for the L44A1 high-pressure barrel because that’s the barrel that will fire the newer round, which will be available in 2026.”
In terms of the vehicle’s ammunition loadout, Turkcan said the upgraded CV90120’s magazine will carry 56 ready-to-fire rounds plus another 28.
https://euro-sd.com/2024/06/major-news/ ... r-cv90120/
https://www.rheinmetall.com/de/produkte ... d-munition
Schwer vorstellbar, dass ein CV90120 auch nur annähernd das Schutzniveau eines Leopard 2A4 oder Leopard 2A8 erreichen kann:
https://x.com/ronkainen7k15/status/1799426533813309448
https://x.com/80bvm/status/1351562270900445190
