Dutch CV90s to receive embedded cyber security capabilities

The mid-life upgrade (MLU) of the Royal Netherlands Army's (RNLA's) CV9035NL will include fitting the infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) with embedded cyber security capabilities, according to Swedish cyber security company Clavister.

The RNLA’s CV9035NL will be fitted with cyber security capabilities from Swedish company Clavister. (BAE Systems)

Clavister said in a press release on 4 February that it would fit its military-grade RSG-400 security gateway and RSW-400 secure network switch into 122 CV90s, with an option for 19 more. Deliveries will begin in the second half of this year and last through 2024. It did not identify the country the upgrade was for but the number of CV90s involved and the timelines matched those for the CV9035NL MLU.

Clavister gave a contract value of at least SEK50 million (nearly USD6 million), with the possibility of increasing to SEK90 million. The company foresaw further opportunities because of the long lifetime of the CV9035NL, which the Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD) expects to last until 2039.

The upgraded CV9035NL's NATO-standard Generic Vehicle Architecture (NGVA) fourth-generation digital core drives the need for cyber security capabilities, according to Clavister. The company said that the RSG-400 will provide protection, ensuring that only cleared users, systems, or protocols can connect to the IFV. It added that the gateway is built around its cOS core platform, Clavister's internally developed operating software, augmented based on NATO and CV9035NL MLU prime contractor BAE Systems' requirements. The RSG-400 is equipped with military-grade enclosure and connectors, with ruggedised hardware designed to withstand extreme environmental conditions and major physical attacks.