Slovakia considers the CV90120

Slovakia’s MoD is considering the CV90120 light tank as an alternative to heavier platforms like the Leopard 2, according to a series of reports from Slovakian news outlets in early January. The rationale for this approach is the lower cost of the vehicles and their lighter weight at around 38 tonnes, compared with more than 60 for a Leopard 2A8. 

The prospect has been under consideration since the previous administration, Defense News reported on the 15th January citing Slovakia’s former defence minister, Jaroslav Naď. A procurement process for the vehicles has not been initiated, however, “through the current CV90MkIV project in Slovakia, BAE Systems Hägglunds has already established a network of industrial partners in country, including new facilities at EVPÚ and Koval Systems that are scheduled for completion in 2025. This infrastructure could support CV90120 production,” BAE representative told Calibre via email on January 20th. 

Slovakia is buying 152 of the CV90 Mk IV in a €1.3 billion deal that was signed in June 2022, which are to replace its Soviet era BVP-2s, an analogue of the BMP-2 used by Russia. The country’s armed forces started receiving the first of 15 Leopard 2A4s from Germany in December 2022, which were donated in exchange for 30 BVP-1s that were sent to Ukraine. It also operates some T-72M1s that it inherited from the Soviet Union and the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. The total requirement is widely reported to be around 100 vehicles, although this would more than double the existing fleet. 

Calibre comment

The CV90120 certainly appears to be a compelling option; the Bundeswehr’s procurement of 105 Leopard 2A8s is budgeted at €2.93 billion, representing a very significant cost for Slovakia’s already stretched defence budget. However, from a platform perspective, the CV90120 is lighter than the Leopard 2 family for a reason, and that is that it carries less armour. It is a smaller vehicle with a hull 6.6 m long and 3.3 m wide, compared to 3.7 m and 7.7 m for the Leopard 2 hull. This means that the Leopard 2 has to armour and protect a greater area, which will naturally increase the weight. However, the Leopard 2 is much better protected against kinetic energy rounds fired by other tanks and medium class vehicles, whereas a CV90 hull would not be protected to the same level. An active protection system could significantly expand its protection levels, but will never provide the same level of protection as the heavy passive armour on a conventional MBT. The mobility of the CV90120 may well be greater, however, which may enable the tank to provide more effective support to infantry formations. Ultimately, the decision should be shaped by the Slovakian doctrine, and an assessment of the risk posed by an adversary’s tank forces. 

 By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on 24th January 2025.