Sweden Orders 20 CV90 Mortar Carriers
BAE Systems has received a contract amendment from Försvarets Materielverk (FMV) to provide an additional 20 CV90 Mjölner mortar carriers. The contract of approximately 30 million dollars has been awarded to BAE Systems’ Swedish joint venture with HB Utveckling AB, which combines BAE Systems’ Hägglund and Bofors manufacturing capacity. Tommy Gustafsson-Rask, CEO of BAE Systems Hägglunds, says:
“This new contract amendment for additional mortar vehicles ensures that soldiers will benefit from this critical capability in the near future. We look forward to continuing to support the Swedish Army’s efforts to modernize and increase its combat power.”
Sweden’s CV90 mortar carrier consists of BAE’s Mjölner turret system with two smoothbore 120mm cannon barrels mounted on a CV90 chassis. The mortar system is named after the mythical hammer of the Norse god Thor. The Mjölner has a crew of 3 and can rise from 45 to 85 degrees to engage targets at ranges between 9 and 13 km with conventional mortar rounds and can fire up to 16 rounds per minute, with a sustained rate of fire of six rounds per minute. It can be up and running in less than two minutes and off in just over a minute. Mjölner can also carry a significant number of shots on board, up to 56 in Bustle, up to 48 in chassis.
The production of the 20 new vehicles will take place at BAE Systems Hägglunds in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. The original contract for 40 CV90 Mjölner systems was awarded in 2016 and deliveries of the systems started in 2019, with contract completion in 2020. In February 2022, FMV was awarded the first follow-on contract for a further 20 systems, as well as the upgrade of the 40 systems already in operation. The aim was to bring all vehicles up to the same standard by integrating the Swedish Army’s new Command, Control, Communications, Computer and Intelligence (C4I) LSS Mark system for increased interoperability.
When the contract amendment deliveries are completed in 2025, the Swedish Army will operate 80 CV90 mortar vehicles in its fleet. The vehicles, known as Granatkastarpansarbandvagn 90 [Grenade launcher armored car 90]shall provide indirect fire support capacity to Sweden’s mechanized brigades.
Header image: Mjölner CV90 (BAE Systems)