Our company KOVAL SYSTEMS, a. s., together with the Swedish arms company BAE Systems Hägglunds AB, has begun the development of an automatic loader for the newly emerging medium tank CV90120. Representatives of both companies announced this on Wednesday (17. 9. 2025).

We have been cooperating with BAE Systems Hägglunds for more than two years on the production of turrets for CV9035 MkIV armored vehicles. The Slovak Armed Forces have contractually ordered up to 152 units. According to Tarkan Turkcan, Director of the CV90 Platform at BAE Systems Hägglunds, discussions are underway to supplement the armament of the Slovak Armed Forces with the CV90120 tank, which could significantly increase firepower and at the same time bring new opportunities for the Slovak defense industry.

"The CV90120 tank was developed in response to the need to combine the powerful 120 mm cannon of a main battle tank with the lighter and more mobile chassis of the CV90 platform," explained Turkcan, adding that the CV90120 tank weighs 38 tons, which is half the weight of conventional tanks. As he added, a significant element of the modernized tank is a new super-fast automatic loader that can prepare another round in just a few seconds. The vehicle can thus hit multiple targets in a row, including tanks with reactive armor by firing two rounds at the same spot.

Our company's sales director - Ing. Ján Michálek informed that we have expanded our cooperation not only to the production of the turrets, but also to development: "It is a step from basic production according to (Swedish) project documentation. In the case of the CV90120 tank, we receive only basic documentation, and our development, design, assembly, and production departments are working on refining it into a production-ready form. This is a real development in cooperation with BAE Systems Hägglunds."

In connection with the production and development of components for Swedish armored vehicles and tanks, our company has invested more than €10 million in technology, infrastructure, new halls, personnel, and know-how over the past two years. Our Swedish partner will contribute by investing in new measuring equipment, which will make us more flexible in checking precision parts.

More than 20 companies in Slovakia are involved in the production of CV9035 MkIV armored vehicles. The first CV9035 MkIV vehicle will be officially presented in Sweden in the second half of October. The CV90 infantry fighting vehicle is currently available in 17 variants. There are currently almost 1,300 units in service in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Ukraine.

Source: TERAZ.SK. Koval Systems has begun developing a loader for the Swedish medium tank. In: Videos and broadcasts of TASR TV [online]. 2025 [cit. 18. 9. 2025]. Available on the internet: <https://www.teraz.sk/priame-prenosy-a-videa-tasr-tv/spolocnost-koval-systems-zacala-s-vy/906830-clanok.html>.