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Czech Army’s New CV9030CZ Mk IV Infantry Fighting Vehicle Enters Winter Trials in Sweden.
The first Czech CV9030CZ Mk IV infantry fighting vehicle is undergoing environmental and operational testing in Sweden alongside soldiers from the Czech Army’s 7th Mechanized Brigade. The trials mark a key validation phase before the Czech Republic introduces a planned fleet of 246 next-generation tracked armored vehicles into service.
The first CV9030CZ Mk IV infantry fighting vehicle destined for the Czech Armed Forces is currently undergoing rigorous testing in Sweden, where it is operating in snow-covered terrain together with troops from the Czech Army’s 7th Mechanized Brigade. Images released by the Czech military show the vehicle being evaluated under demanding winter conditions as part of the validation process for the country’s new generation of tracked infantry fighting vehicles. The trials are intended to verify mobility, reliability, and operational integration before the Czech Republic begins fielding a planned fleet of 246 CV90-based armored vehicles that will form the backbone of its future mechanized combat capability.
The Czech Republic’s first CV9030CZ Mk IV infantry fighting vehicle is undergoing winter trials in Sweden with troops from the 7th Mechanized Brigade as part of testing before the Czech Army fields a planned fleet of 246 next-generation armored vehicles (Picture source: Czech Army)
According to the statement published by the Czech military, the tests are taking place in Sweden in order to ensure that the new platform meets all operational requirements before it enters service with Czech mechanized forces. The army emphasized that “the harsh Swedish terrain and cruel Nordic winter will not stop our new infantry fighting vehicles,” underlining that the first Czech CV90 continues to undergo demanding trials before the vehicles are formally introduced into operational units.
The vehicle being tested is the CV9030CZ Mk IV, the newest and most modern Czech variant of the CV90 infantry fighting vehicle family developed by BAE Systems Hägglunds. Selected by the Czech Republic as part of a major modernization program aimed at replacing the Soviet-era BVP-1 and BVP-2 vehicles, the platform incorporates a number of technological improvements intended to enhance survivability, mobility, and battlefield effectiveness in modern combat environments.
In its statement, the Czech Armed Forces highlighted several of the vehicle’s key characteristics, including multi-layered protection against unmanned aerial vehicles, durable armor, and a powerful drive unit designed to ensure mobility across difficult terrain. The vehicle is also equipped with composite tracks and a suspension system that maintains high levels of mobility even with a combat weight exceeding 35 tons. These features are intended to ensure that the platform can operate effectively in complex battlefield environments where threats include anti-armor weapons, drones, and challenging terrain conditions.
Beyond these features, the CV9030CZ Mk IV integrates modern digital architecture and advanced firepower typical of the latest generation of infantry fighting vehicles. Armed with a 30 mm Mk44 Bushmaster II automatic cannon and designed to accommodate additional anti-tank capabilities such as guided missiles, the platform combines firepower, protection, and mobility within a network-enabled combat vehicle architecture. The vehicle can also transport a squad of infantry while providing armored support during mechanized operations.
The new fleet of CV9030CZ Mk IV vehicles will primarily equip the Czech Army’s 7th Mechanized Brigade, which is being transformed into a NATO-ready heavy brigade capable of participating in collective defense operations and high-intensity combat scenarios. As testing continues in Sweden, these trials will allow Czech crews to validate the vehicle’s performance in extreme climatic conditions and demanding terrain before the introduction of the full fleet of 246 vehicles that will form the backbone of the Czech Republic’s future mechanized infantry capability.