Estonia Cancels CV90 IFV Adoption in Favor of Drones

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Estonia had previously indicated interest in developing the CV90 infantry fighting vehicle last year, alongside five other NATO nations.

NATO member Estonia announced this month that it would not adopt the Swedish-made CV90 MkIV infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) as previously planned—and instead would reallocate funds to additional air defenses and unmanned systems.

In an interview with Estonian public broadcaster Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR) earlier this month, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur confirmed that his nation opted to cancel a €500 million ($587 million) order for the IFVs, which were set to replace the Estonian military’s existing CV90s. The current fleet consists of 44 early second-hand Combat Vehicle 90s purchased from the Netherlands in 2014 and redesignated as the CV9035EE. In addition, Tallinn acquired around three dozen CV90 MkI hulls that were converted to support vehicles.

Instead of replacing those IFVs, approximately €100 million ($117 million) will be allocated towards their modernization, a source in the Estonian Center for Defense Investments (ECDI) told international open-source military analyst firm Janes.

The Estonian Army Is Switching Gears

Estonia, which borders Russia, has rapidly increased its defense spending since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It was one of six NATO members—along with Sweden, Finland, Norway, Lithuania, and the Netherlands—to sign a technical agreement last November for the procurement of the CV90 MkIV Nordic initiative. That agreement called for cooperation among the partners, including the determination of the technical requirements for the new IFV, with deliveries set to begin in 2028.

“Estonia has decided that, at present, it is more rational to modernize the existing infantry fighting vehicles rather than replace them. Modernization will ensure the sustained preservation of capability and the efficient use of resources,” the ECDI spokesperson told Janes.

Instead of new IFVs, Tallinn will maintain the current fleet and then invest more heavily in air defenses and in drones. The decision seems to address the urgency of repeated Russian incursions into Estonia’s airspace over the past year, and the fact that drones have been a serious game-changer and force multiplier in the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Rather than purchasing IFVs that might offer limited defensive options should Russia mount an invasion, the ECDI appears to be placing greater emphasis on air defense platforms capable of countering threats from aircraft, missiles, and even unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Both are in line with Tallinn’s current doctrine of “active defense.”

The CV90 Is Still in High Demand

Even if Estonia does not proceed with its acquisition of the CV90, the latest version of the IFV will still likely be adopted by the other five partners that signed last year’s technical agreement.

In addition, it was just last August that the first CV90 for the Czech Army rolled off the assembly line. In total, 38 CV90 Mk IV IFVs will be produced in Sweden for Prague, with 207 more built in the Czech Republic as part of the central European nation’s ongoing military modernization. Another 152 CV90s will be headed to Slovakia by the end of the decade.

About the CV90 Infantry Fighting Vehicle

The Combat Vehicle 90 is a family of Swedish tracked combat vehicles that were designed by Sweden’s Defense Materiel Administration (Försvarets Materielverk, FMV), Hägglunds, and Bofors during the mid-1980s to early 1990s.

The base model CV90 IFV first entered service in 1993, and over the past three decades, it has been continuously updated and upgraded with technological improvements to meet changing battlefield requirements. Sweden has some 549 CV90s in its arsenal, including 42 that have been updated to the CV9040C model with additional armor. 

Year Introduced: 1993

Number Built: ~1,400 (all users)

Dimensions: Approx. 6.5–7 m (21–23 ft) length, 3.2 m (10.5 ft) width, 2.5 m (8.2 ft) height

Weight: 35–37 tonnes (depending on configuration).

Engine: Scania diesel engine (delivering up to 1,000 horsepower in Mk IV)

Speed: 70 km/h (43 mph) on road

Range: Approx. 300–350 km (186–217 mi)

Armament: 40mm Bofors L/70 autocannon, 30mm Bushmaster II, or 35/50mm Bushmaster 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun. Optional anti-tank guided missiles (e.g. Spike missiles)

40mm Bofors L/70 autocannon, 30mm Bushmaster II, or 35/50mm Bushmaster

7.62 mm coaxial machine gun.

Optional anti-tank guided missiles (e.g. Spike missiles)

Crew: 3 (driver, gunner, commander), plus 6–8 dismounted soldiers 

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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