Beluša, Slovakia - April 19, 2023 - BAE Systems Hägglunds and KOVAL SYSTEMS, LLC. have signed a contract for the production of new tracked infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) CV90MkIV for the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic.

Slovak company KOVAL SYSTEMS, LLC. has officially won the contract for the complete assembly of the turret of the CV90 vehicle. The company will also manufacture the turret's mechanical components. Both companies have already defined approximately 80 products that will be produced in Beluša, with more to come. KOVAL SYSTEMS will carry out the initial production of components for the turrets for testing purposes in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, with the aim of timely creation of capacities in Slovakia.

"Together with our Slovak partners, we are determined to supply the Slovak Armed Forces with an infantry fighting vehicle equipped with advanced capabilities and digital technologies. The CV90MkIV offers increased speed and maneuverability on the battlefield along with upgraded electronics to support current and future needs. In addition, the CV90 is simply an extremely high-quality and successful vehicle on a global scale that has also passed through the harsh combat conditions in which it has proven itself," said Tommy Gustafsson-Rask, CEO of BAE Systems Hägglunds.

"We are convinced that this exceptional project will benefit the Slovak army and be a success for BAE Systems Hägglunds, as well as for Koval Systems and the entire network of Slovak suppliers. The establishment of new strategic partnerships can also be of great value, which in the long term will be of significant help to the Slovak industry," said Ján Michálek, the sales director of KOVAL SYSTEMS in Beluša, Slovakia.

The final setting of industrial cooperation for the CV90 in Slovakia is progressing according to plan. The contract with KOVAL SYSTEMS is one of many that BAE Systems Hägglunds will sign as part of the finalization of the network of local Slovak OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) industrial partners for the production of the CV90.

Slovak Republic took place at the same time as the signing of the contract with the main Slovak industrial partner of BAE Systems, ZTS-Špeciál, which will carry out complete assembly for this project. Since then, there has been a continuous and close dialogue with other Slovak partners who will jointly deliver the CV90 vehicles to the Slovak Armed Forces. Among them is, for example, the company Ray Service CLL, partner for development works and production of electrical components and subsystems. Cooperation related to development and construction work has already started. Another positive example is the company Aliter Technologies PLC, where, in cooperation with BAE Systems Hägglunds, the implementation of military capability setting in the field of C4I (digital command and control system) is done.

BAE Systems' successful industrial collaboration goes far beyond the mechanical assembly of a vehicle or the construction of new factories. It is built around local industry partners who play a highly valued and strategic role in the development, production, training and support of the vehicle and its numerous variants. In Slovakia, the domestic industry is thus strengthened and at the same time the security of supplies for the armed forces is increased. The growing network of industrial partners throughout Slovakia will ensure that the local industry will play a decisive role for the service, maintenance and future development of CV90 vehicles.

The Slovak CV90 will be produced with a new modern turret of the D series armed with a 35 mm cannon. The turret will provide CV90 crews with better protection and increased combat effectiveness thanks to the latest generation of sensors, artificial intelligence and augmented reality software, enhancing the CV90's multidimensional capabilities on the battlefield. Slovak vehicles will also be equipped with the "Iron Fist" active protection solution (APS) from Elbit Systems and the integrated SPIKE-LR advanced anti-tank guided missile from Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.

The Slovak Army will receive the latest variant of the CV9035, known as the CV90MkIV, with the latest advanced capabilities and digital technologies to meet the needs of the evolving battlefield.

You can watch the press conference at this link.

Published by BAE Systems, Inc.