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Estonia Exits Joint CV90 Procurement with Five European Nations, BAE Systems Reports Marginal Production Impact
Estonia has withdrawn from a multimillion-dollar joint procurement program for CV90 infantry fighting vehicles involving five European countries. BAE Systems Hägglunds stated the impact on production is marginal, with negotiations ongoing among the remaining nations. The move prioritizes Estonia's air defense needs while retaining its existing CV90 fleet.
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Estonia withdrew from a multimillion-dollar joint procurement program for CV90 infantry fighting vehicles earlier this month, leaving five European nations to continue negotiations with BAE Systems Hägglunds. The company described the impact on its production plans as marginal.
Tommy Gustafsson-Rask, general manager of BAE Systems Hägglunds, said during a media visit to the Örnsköldsvik site in Sweden that Estonia had one of the lower quantities in the deal.
“To put it straightforward, Estonia had one of the lower quantities in this. … So the effect is marginal. I think the other customers will get vehicles earlier, so they’re happy. I think it’s in the margin, it’s not such a big effect,” Gustafsson-Rask said.
He added that he was not disappointed by Estonia’s move. Breaking Defense reported that the company expects common configurations and shared upgrade paths for the CV90 vehicles, while allowing for national differences in equipment. Estonia stated that it favors prioritizing air defense systems over acquiring additional CV90s.
The country intends to retain and upgrade its existing CV90 fleet of around 50 vehicles. Estonian Minister of Defense Hanno Pevkur told Breaking Defense in February that Tallinn was pushing for local supplier involvement and vehicle deliveries by the end of 2030. Pevkur made clear in February that the timeframe for CV90 deliveries did not line up with BAE Systems Hägglunds’ expectations.
Negotiations between the other nations and BAE Systems Hägglunds are ongoing. Gustafsson-Rask said the negotiations are hoped to close in Q3 this year. Last year, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Lithuania, Estonia, and the Netherlands signed a statement of intent to jointly procure CV90 armored infantry fighting vehicles from BAE Systems Hägglunds.
