The Netherlands received the first CV9035NL MLU production standard sample IFV on 4 June 2024 at Van Halteren Metaal plant in Bunschoten-Spakenburg. (Dutch MoD)
The Netherlands received the first CV9035NL MLU (mid-life upgrade) production standard sample infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) on 4 June at BAE Systems Hägglunds' Dutch partner Van Halteren Metaal plant in Bunschoten-Spakenburg, the Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on its website on 5 June.
With the handover to the Royal Netherlands Army, the programme moves to serial production. The first vehicle will be used for training before it is fielded in November.
The upgrade is focused on the IFV's turret, which is being produced by Van Halteren, with parts supplied by Hägglunds and other Dutch companies. All 122 CV9035NLs are scheduled to be delivered during the first quarter of 2027.
The Dutch MoD said the upgrade would extend the lifetime of the CV9035NL to 2039.
In January 2021 the Dutch Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) – since renamed the Materiel and IT Command (Commando Materieel en IT: COMMIT) – awarded BAE Systems Hägglunds a USD500 million contract to provide a new turret for the CV90 and move the 35 mm gun main armament forward to improve ergonomics, with the crew sitting next to each other rather than being separated by the gun. The resulting extra room in the turret means the vehicle can carry 25% more ammunition, providing greater flexibility in the mix of armoured piercing and airburst munitions the vehicle can carry. Moreover, moving the gun has improved the vehicle's balance.
The placement of a Spike launcher on the right and the Iron Fist Light Decoupled (IF-LD) active protection system (APS)
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