Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden have signed a technical arrangement for cooperation regarding the combat vehicle CV90. The agreement aims to enhance both operational capability and logistics within NATO.
According to a press release from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), the agreement marks a milestone in Nordic-Baltic defence cooperation. The countries will coordinate the use, maintenance, and development of the CV90 combat vehicle, known in Sweden as Stridsfordon 90. FMV states that the multilateral technical arrangement follows a previously signed declaration of intent for joint procurement.
– This is an important step in the work towards the joint acquisition of additional CV90 combat vehicles. A common vehicle system increases the possibilities for cooperation between our countries' armed forces, in terms of both maintenance and further development of the system in the long term, says Eva Hagwall, Acting Director of Defence Materiel (NAD), in the press release.
In April, it was reported that Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Lithuania had previously negotiated a coordinated purchase of up to several hundred CV90 vehicles. Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated at the time that the negotiations involved a significant number of vehicles, while Lithuania's Prime Minister emphasised the importance of regional defence cooperation. Lithuania has simultaneously pursued a national procurement process to equip two mechanised battalions with CV90s.
The new technical arrangement now also includes the Netherlands and Estonia, with the goal of achieving faster deliveries, lower costs, and higher efficiency in the operation of the system.