- Yes
- No
with
EVPÚ Defence CMS-1 Panoramic Commander’s Sight (2021)
Introduction:
After the partial success of the CV90 CZ and CV90 CZr, BAE Systems and VOP CZ grew closer, and work began on laying down the groundwork for local production of the CV90 Mk. IV for the Czech army. In 2021, the CV90 Mk. IV was put forward as an option to replace the ageing fleet of BMP-2s that the Czech army has. And by 2022, that offer had been accepted, with VOP CZ leading the in-house production of 350 CV90 in the Czech Republic. But here is the tricky part: what variant of the CV90 was actually chosen? At the Nato days held in Poland in 2022. The subject of this suggestion was there to represent the Czech CV90. Spoiler: this is not what the production variant looks like. It turns out that this was to show the integration of Czech equipment on the CV90 Mk. IV become standard equipment that any nation would be able to order in the future. No nation has yet ordered a CV90 Mk. IV in this exact config, so it remains as a sort of prototype.
History:
In the 2010’s, the Czech Republic started to look for a replacement for their fleet of BMP-2s; multiple companies were interested in this deal, with BAE Systems Hägglunds being one of them. They revealed the CV90 CZ and CV90 CZr in 2017 at IDET held in Brno. These two prototypes would later face off against a few other IFVs that were on offer for the replacement for the BMP-2s. These would be the ASCOD 2, KF31 and KF41 Lynx, and Puma IFV. The CV90s came out on top of the trials, but the ASCOD would be at least revised one time, and the KF41 Lynx was not even present for some reason at the trials held. After the initial trials, the CV90 CZ and CZr would be cancelled, and the CV90 Mk. IV was chosen as the candidate to replace the BMP-2. With the CV90 CZ being based on a Mk. IV chassis, you would probably think they are similar, and yes, they are by and large, but there are a few improvements, as well as disadvantages for this version of the CV90.
The CV90 CZ has the Iron Fist APS, which this version of the CV90 lacks. This was a big requirement for the replacement of the BMP-2, so why it was not installed is a bit of a mystery, but it was probably not done as it is already known that it can be equipped with it, as evident by the CV90 CZ; both that and this CV90 use the E-series turret, which means they can use the same equipment. The commander’s independent sight has been changed to the one used on the CV90 CZr, which is the CMS-1 instead of the AAGPS. The CV90 Mk. IV (CMS-1) (2021) would in 2021 go through trials in Czechia against the revised ASCOD 2 and the KF41 Lynx. These trials are where we get the first images of this exact CV90, and we can also see that it has the dual Spike-LR II launcher just like the CV90 CZ. The CV90 came out victorious at these trials held in 2021, and in 2022 it was announced that the CV90 Mk. IV had been chosen as the replacement for the BMP-2, but it was never specified what exact variant of the CV90 was picked. Hence why it was thought that the configuration of the CV90 used for the trials in 2021 was thought to have been the version picked.
The CV90 Mk. IV (CMS-1) under trials in 2021
We know now that this was not the chosen variant and that the CV9030 Mk. IV D-series was picked instead, which uses, as the name implies, the D-series turret instead of the E-series. The CV90 Mk. IV (CMS-1) would reappear in 2022 in a different configuration once again when NATO Days were held. This one again sparked the idea of the stock CV90 Mk. IV equipped with the CMS-1 sight was the chosen variant. It would not be until this year (2026) that we would learn what the Czech CV90 actually was and what the new designation for it would be.
Specifications
Armor
The armor is the same as a regular CV90 Mk. IV; it has the AMAP-B applique armor on the sides and the lower front plate, which does give it a bit more protection.
Chassis
- Front: 20 + AMAP-B
- Sides: 16 + AMAP-B
- Rear: 20
Turret
- Front: 20
- Sides: 20
- Rear: 20
Crew
Crew consists of 3 members: Commander, Gunner, Driver. Commander and gunner are seated in the turret while the driver sits in the hull.
-
Commander
- EVPÚ Defence CMS-1 Panoramic Commander’s Sight
- Sensors: Cooled MCT thermal imaging camera and a high-definition daylight color TV camera.
- Zoom / Field of View: Continuous optical zoom on the daylight channel and multi-field-of-view settings on the thermal channel.
- Target Identification Range: Designed to provide full-weather battlefield target recognition and identification matching modern infantry fighting vehicle requirements.
- Laser Rangefinder: Present and integrated.
- Stabilization: EVPÚ 2-axis gyro-stabilized pan-and-tilt positioner.
- Traverse: Continuous 360° traverse.
- EVPÚ Defence CMS-1 Panoramic Commander’s Sight
-
Gunner
- SAAB Universal Tank and Anti-Aircraft Fire Control System (UTAAS)
- Sensors: Standard daylight TV camera, 3rd generation thermal imaging camera (operating in the 8–12 μm or 3–5 μm bands).
- Zoom / Field of View: Fixed daylight channel provides an 8° Field of View with 8x magnification.
- Laser Rangefinder: Effective up to and beyond 10,000 meters.
- Stabilization: 2-axis gyro-stabilized mirror top-module, providing elevation coverage from -10° to +45° and azimuth deflection of ±18°.
- SAAB Universal Tank and Anti-Aircraft Fire Control System (UTAAS)
-
Driver
- Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) camera of unknown type.
Armaments
Main armament
- 30 mm Bushmaster 2 Mk. 44
Ammuntion
- APDS
- MK258 (APFSDS)
- MK266 (HEI-T)
Secondary armaments
- ATGM
- 2 Ready-to-Launch Spike-LR II.
- 7.62 FN-MAG
- 7.62×51mm NATO cartridges.
- Smoke grenades: 16
Mobility:
The mobility of the CV90 Mk. IV (CMS-1) trialed in 2021 is very similar of not identical to, the CV90 Mk. IV. Both feature an independent commander’s sight, just of different types, which means the weight should not be affected. If it is affected, then it would be a very small difference in weight between them.
Engine
- Scania DS16 V8 diesel
- 1,000 hp
Gearbox
- Upgraded Perkins X-300 transmission
- 4 forward gears
- 2 reverse gears
Mass
- 37 tons
Power-to-weight
- 27 hp/ton
Sources
https://www.edrmagazine.eu/cv90-and-bvs10-increasing-production-and-looking-to-the-future
https://www.army-technology.com/news/bae-systems-submits-final-bid-czech-bmp-ii/
Czech Army tests three new tracked armored IFVs to replace old BVP-2
NATO Days 2025: CMS-1 Commander sight on CV90 | EVPÚ Defence
EVPÚ Defence to supply CMS-1 commander sights for Czech CV90 vehicles - Defence Industry Europe
CMS-1 Commander Sight | EVPÚ Defence
Ascod, CV9O a Lynx jdou do boje. Obrana začne testovat pásové obrněnce - iDNES.cz
Náměstek Koudelka oficiálně předal dodavatelům BVP výzvy k podání nabídek | Armáda ČR
https://www.baesystems.com/en-us/product/cv90-mkiv
Stridsfordon 90 – Wikipedia
Combat Vehicle 90 - Wikipedia
CV 90 Mk.IV | War Thunder Wiki
CV90 Mk IV
https://www.saab.com/products/utaas-tank-and-anti-aircraft-system
FN MAG - Wikipedia