The Dutch Defensie Materieel Organisatie has signed a USD584 million contract with BAE Systems Hägglunds for the upgrade of the Royal Netherlands Army’s (RNLA’s) 122 CV9035NL infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), according to a 14 January statement from BAE Systems.
First production deliveries are to commence in 2024 and conclude in 2027. “The turret bodies and the four FoT [first of type] vehicles will be produced in Sweden but the rest of the production will be carried out in the Netherlands,” Gabriel Åberg, sales director for the Netherlands for BAE Systems Hägglunds, told Janes .
The CV9035NL upgrade will include the Elbit Systems Iron Fist Light Decoupled (IFLD) active protection system (APS) and Rafael Spike-LR anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) (BAE Systems Hägglunds )
The upgrade centres on the replacement of the CV9035NL’s turret with a new design derived from the BAE Systems D-series turret. Åberg told Janes : “The new turret for the RNLA will be the most recent and modern turret in our inventory. This includes many parts of the bespoke D-series turret. The Dutch requirements are very demanding and specific in some areas so of course we need to adapt the design.”
Whilst the Bushmaster III 35 mm chain gun main armament is retained from the existing vehicles, the entire turret is new. The most significant changes are the integration of Elbit Systems’ Iron Fist Light Decoupled (IFLD) active protection system (APS) and the Commander Open Architecture Panoramic Sight (COAPS) 360°panoramic independent commander’s sight, which is fitted to a 500 mm elevating mast, as well as Rafael’s Spike-LR anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) in a retractable twin launch pod on the right side of the turret.
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