The Norwegian Armed Forces are conducting a digital upgrade of their 164 CV90 combat vehicles. The project is led by the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (Forsvarsmateriell) and is estimated to cost around 130 million Norwegian kroner. The work is expected to be completed in May.
– This is an important upgrade that allows the CV90 vehicles to keep pace with new capabilities being phased in over the coming years, such as new tanks, artillery location radar, and air defence, says Tomas Beck, Head of Land and Joint Capabilities at the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency.
According to a press release from the Norwegian Armed Forces, the upgrade involves replacing the vehicles' computers. New software and technology are being integrated to ensure the vehicles meet the demands of a modern defence.
The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency is carrying out the work in-house, in collaboration with the Norwegian Army's Weapon Technical Regiment (VTR) and the Swedish manufacturer BAE Systems Hägglunds AB. By handling the upgrade internally, the defence sector has been able to reduce costs and shorten delivery times, according to the armed forces.
– In good cooperation with the industry and the Army's Weapon Technical Regiment, we have found a very good solution that is now being rolled out on all CV90 vehicles. The upgrade is being conducted under controlled conditions and with low technical risk, says Tomas Beck.
The new technology enables faster information sharing with other units, such as tanks and artillery. The vehicles will be equipped with 3D maps and the capacity to handle data on drone swarms via the NorBMS (Battle Management System).
Norway has been using vehicles from BAE Systems Hägglunds since the mid-1990s. The 164 vehicles currently being upgraded were phased in between 2015 and 2019 and consist of five different variants, including combat vehicles and command armoured personnel carriers.