The path was complicated, but has now led to the goal: Yesterday, the Czech Republic signed a contract with the British defense contractor BAE Systems at the IDET trade fair in Brno. BAE Systems for the delivery of a total of 246 CV90 infantry fighting vehicles.
The Czech army had originally launched a complex procurement process to replace its existing fleet of BMP tracked armored vehicles. The first field tests in summer 2017 involved the Ulan successor Ascod from GDELS PSM (KMW and Rheinmetall joint venture) with the Puma, BAE Systems with its CV90 and Rheinmetall with the Lynx are taking part.
PSM withdrew its offer for the Puma in the first round of requirements, then the timetable was postponed and finally the Czech government completely scrapped the procurement process because – according to the official account – two of the three bidders (Rheinmetall and GDELS) refused to accept new conditions. As a result, the Czech Republic decided against a new tender and entered into direct negotiations with Sweden.
The 246 vehicles in seven different variants that have now been ordered as part of a government-to-government deal will cost the equivalent of almost 2.5 billion euros, and an extensive participation of Czech industry has also been agreed, with 40 percent being mentioned. The first vehicles are due to arrive in the Czech Republic in 2026, but it has not yet been officially announced when delivery will be completed. Based on the information known so far, the last CV90 – including the vehicles developed and produced in the Czech Republic – is expected to arrive in 2028.
Irrespective of the procurement that has now taken place, the Czech Republic is also interested in purchasing new battle tanks: The government in Prague has authorized Defense Minister Jana Černochová to discuss the possibility of participating in the Germany’s planned purchase of Leopard tanks in the new 2A8 version to negotiate. The Czech Republic hopes that this step will result in “better prices, shorter delivery times and logistical advantages”, according to a recent press release. Prague plans to purchase a total of 70 Leopard 2A8s and receive the vehicles by the end of the decade.
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