The new multilateral involving over two hundred CV9035 infantry fighting vehicles in the latest MKIIIC modification for 25 billion Swedish kronor (~$2.29 billion) has been quite a prolonged initiative that took almost a year to accomplish. The agreement with BAE Systems Hägglunds was signed jointly by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and the Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO/FMI).
According to the statement published December 6 on the official website of Sweden's government, 205 vehicles will be manufactured under this contract: 115 will go to the Danish army, 50 to the Swedish forces — to replace the IFVs transferred as military aid to Ukraine. Lastly, the remaining 40 vehicles will be delivered to Ukraine directly.
Read more: Sweden and Denmark Sign $2.2 Billion Deal for CV90 IFVs, Including 40 for Ukraine
There are two important details mentioned in the message. Firstly, the vehicles slated for Ukraine were financed through "previous donations" from Denmark and Sweden. Secondly, quote: "Sweden donated 50 CV90s in its tenth support package to Ukraine. Through this new order, 40 new combat vehicles will be produced for Ukraine. The funding for this was supplied via the fifteenth support package."
What this means is that it actually took Sweden a lot of time to finalize a contract for the production of infantry fighting vehicles for Ukraine. The 15th defense assistance package was announced in February 2024, with $680 million allocated for procurements of arms for the Ukrainian military.
Moreover, let's recall that strengthening the Armed Forces of Ukraine with additional CV90s was a joint decision between Sweden and Denmark, officially announced in December 2023 albeit at that point it was only a declaration of intent.
To add context, the Danish government officially stated it wanted to purchase exactly 115 vehicles for its army back in August this year, now the number expectedly appears in the contract signed December 6.
Now back to vehicles for Ukraine, it turns out that a whole year has passed since the declaration of intent to buy these 40 vehicles till the finished contract with the manufacturer. That is not to mention the time needed to produce these vehicles and whether Ukraine will have priority in these supplies are unknown yet.
Read more: Ukraine Receives Second Batch of the F-16 Aircraft from Denmark
