1,000 CV90 infantry fighting vehicles for Ukraine could cost more than $10bn

We wrote today that Ukraine, the Czech Republic and Slovakia have announced cooperation to buy and operate Swedish CV90 armoured infantry fighting vehicles. Ukraine wants 1,000 armoured vehicles and the deal could cost billions of dollars.

Here's What We Know

Naturally, it is too early to talk about the procurement and cost of the potential contract. But to get an idea of the numbers, we can look at two deals that the Czech Republic and Slovakia have ordered CV90s at half-yearly intervals.

Last December it became known that Slovakia will order from Norway 152 CV90 infantry fighting vehicles in the MkIV modification with 35mm guns. The agreement amounted to €1.7 billion ($1.85 billion). This means that 1,000 CV90s cost just over $12bn.

The Czech Republic at the end of last month completed negotiations to purchase the CV90 MkIV in seven different configurations for $2.2bn. Here, even without a calculator, you can calculate that under similar conditions, 1,000 combat vehicles would cost around $9bn.

It is noteworthy that in both cases localisation of production and involvement of domestic industry is envisaged. 40% of the work for each contract will be done in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.