Slovakia is entering another important phase of military modernisation, placing significant emphasis on strengthening its mechanised capabilities while further developing its domestic defence industry. A natural continuation of the ongoing CV9035 MkIV Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) programme is the CV90120 light tank, developed by BAE Systems Hägglunds.

The CV90120 offers the Slovak Armed Forces the firepower of a main battle tank while maintaining the high mobility required for Slovakia's diverse terrain. The vehicle was recently presented to both defence professionals and the general public during Tank Days Laugaricio 2026, held on the final weekend of June near Trenčianske Stankovce.

Today, more than thirty Slovak defence and engineering companies are already involved in the production of the CV9035 MkIV Infantry Fighting Vehicle. Should the Slovak Armed Forces decide to procure the CV90120 in the future, domestic industrial participation could expand even further. BAE Systems Hägglunds has expressed its readiness to discuss with the Slovak Ministry of Defence the localisation of additional production activities covering a broader range of tank structures, components and assemblies.

Such a decision would ensure continuity for the Slovak defence industry beyond the current IFV programme while creating new opportunities for investment in skilled personnel, advanced technologies and specialised manufacturing capabilities. One tangible example is the development of the automatic ammunition loading system, carried out by KOVAL SYSTEMS in cooperation with Rheinmetall and BAE Systems Hägglunds.

Most recently, BAE Systems Hägglunds also awarded KOVAL SYSTEMS a contract for the manufacture of the CV90120 turret structure, further demonstrating confidence in the capabilities of the Slovak defence industry. "We have successfully completed the development of the automatic loader for the CV90120. At the same time, we have received an order for the turret structure of this tank variant, which we had previously prepared from a technological standpoint and are now moving into full-scale production," confirmed Ján Michálek, Sales Director of KOVAL SYSTEMS.

The CV90120 therefore represents an opportunity for Slovakia to build upon its ongoing modernisation programme, deepen cooperation with the domestic defence industry and acquire a combat platform fully aligned with the requirements of the modern battlefield.

The platform will also be equipped with advanced counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) and Active Protection Systems (APS), significantly enhancing crew survivability against current threats, including unmanned aerial vehicles.

"Lessons learned from current conflicts clearly demonstrate that battlefield success depends on rapid response, crew protection and survivability in an environment saturated with drones and precision-guided munitions. Under such conditions, manual loading is becoming increasingly slow and exposes the crew to greater risk. An advanced automatic loader enables faster target engagement, a higher rate of fire and reduces the physical workload of the crew," explained Tarkan Turkcan, CV90 Platform Director at BAE Systems Hägglunds.

The CV90120 also represents a significant advancement in firepower. Equipped with the latest 120 mm Rheinmetall smoothbore gun, it delivers firepower comparable to that of modern main battle tanks while offering substantially lower weight and superior mobility.

The CV90120 could complement Slovakia's future fleet of CV90 vehicles while delivering considerable logistical, operational and economic benefits. Since it shares the same chassis as the CV9035 MkIV, the Slovak Armed Forces could benefit from common spare parts, maintenance procedures, crew training and existing support infrastructure.

Weighing less than 38 tonnes, the CV90120 offers a substantial advantage over conventional main battle tanks, many of which exceed 70 tonnes. Its lower weight improves mobility across bridges, soft ground, mountainous regions and the rugged terrain characteristic of Slovakia, allowing it to operate alongside infantry in areas inaccessible to significantly heavier tanks.

All members of the CV90 family are built upon a common platform. This enables operators and maintenance personnel to use common training programmes, maintenance procedures, tools and spare parts while benefiting from a highly familiar operating environment across different vehicle variants.

The CV90 Infantry Fighting Vehicle is available in 17 different variants and has been designed to provide exceptional mobility combined with the highest levels of protection across every type of terrain and tactical environment. Today, nearly 1,300 CV90 vehicles are in service with the armed forces of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Ukraine, with Slovakia and the Czech Republic set to join the growing community of operators.

The CV90120 light tank combines exceptional tactical and strategic mobility with a powerful 120 mm main gun, outstanding survivability across all operational environments and an advanced combat system architecture that delivers unmatched battlefield performance.

The latest CV90 MkIV platform combines increased battlefield mobility and manoeuvrability with a next-generation electronic architecture designed to support future operational capabilities as the modern battlespace continues to evolve. For the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic, the CV90 MkIV represents one of the most advanced and capable tracked combat platforms available for national defence.

Watch the video report produced by FutureArmy, featuring exclusive footage of the CV90120 together with an interview with Tarkan Turkcan. The report provides valuable insight into the current stage of the CV90120 programme, outlines the next phases of development and discusses the expected project completion timeline.

Source: BAE Systems Hägglunds