The Ukrainian military is using Swedish CV90 infantry fighting vehicles to deliver troops, evacuate the wounded, and, if necessary, as a self-propelled howitzer. The latter option may sound strange, but it is another response to changes on the battlefield.
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The russian-Ukrainian war has long since turned into a positional war. This has had a significant impact on the use of various weapon types, ranging from artillery to armored vehicles.
In addition, unmanned platforms began to dominate the battlefield, which significantly reduced the time it takes to identify targets. At the same time, the number of means of destruction has increased significantly.
Against this backdrop, wheeled self-propelled artillery systems, which previously avoided enemy fire thanks to their mobility, are now forced to operate from pre-designated, closed firing positions. This helps protect them from both return fire and drones.
As for tanks, they had also been actively used for indirect fire support during the Joint Forces Operation. With the escalation of the full-scale war, improvised howitzers saw increasingly frequent use.
In turn, infantry fighting vehicles, whose automatic cannons are designed to provide direct fire support to infantry, are in fact capable of indirect fire as well. This allows them to strike enemy positions while minimizing exposure to enemy fire.
At the same time, the CV90 is equipped with a 40 mm automatic cannon capable of suppressing enemy forces and damaging their cover. This is made possible by both the weapon's firepower and its high rate of fire.
However, even with all the improvements, indirect fire support remains a non-standard role for an infantry fighting vehicle. This approach does not provide accurate damage and has a short range.
Accordingly, assigning an IFV the role of an ersatz howitzer is a forced measure driven by battlefield realities. The situation is similar with anti-drone nets, which are actively used on armored vehicles and even wheeled self-propelled howitzers.
As for the CV90, the Ukrainian military praises its strong protection, high speed, and powerful armament. Therefore, it is a good solution for direct use.
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