Denmark has expanded its armored vehicle program with a new order for 44 CV90 MkIIIC infantry fighting vehicles, a deal valued at roughly $450 million including spare parts, training, logistics, and long-term support. This procurement brings the Royal Danish Army’s future CV90 fleet to 159 vehicles and replaces the previously planned mid-life upgrade of the older CV9035DK series.
The acquisition aligns with Denmark’s 2024–2033 Defence Agreement, which commits major funding to rebuild the armed forces and ensures defense spending surpasses 2% of GDP. A key objective of this plan is the creation of a fully deployable heavy brigade for NATO. The brigade—currently being reorganized around the 1st Brigade in Holstebro—is expected to reach full operational readiness by the late 2020s, relying on Leopard 2A7DK tanks and tracked infantry vehicles rather than wheeled platforms.
Positioned at the high-end of the 20–38-ton tracked IFV category, the CV90 MkIIIC builds on the proven Scandinavian chassis design. It includes a three-person crew, capacity for up to eight dismounts, and an 800-hp Scania diesel engine that delivers strong mobility and reliability in Nordic terrain. Enhanced mine protection, improved suspension, and optional rubber tracks boost survivability and reduce acoustic and thermal signatures—key advantages in modern drone-heavy combat zones.
The platform’s firepower centers on the 35 mm Bushmaster III cannon capable of firing programmable airburst rounds, supported by a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun and smoke launchers. The latest D-series turret integrates advanced stabilized sights, thermal imaging, automated ballistic calculation, and the ability to defeat both ground and aerial threats. Designed for future growth, the turret can also support Iron Fist active protection systems, mast-mounted sensors, and twin Spike or Akeron anti-tank missile launchers.
Within Denmark’s future heavy brigade, the new CV90s will equip mechanized infantry units operating alongside Leopard 2A7DK tanks. Their digital battle management architecture, high mobility, and improved situational awareness allow dispersed, network-enabled operations where effects—not platforms—are concentrated. The brigade will contribute to NATO’s New Force Model and is expected to feature prominently in Baltic, Arctic, and northeastern European defense operations.
Denmark has long experience with the CV90 family, having deployed earlier variants in Afghanistan where survivability and firepower proved decisive. CV90s are now fielded across Northern and Central Europe—Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Ukraine—creating an increasingly integrated “CV90 user community” within NATO.
By opting to purchase new CV90 MkIIICs rather than refurbish older hulls, Copenhagen is prioritizing standardization, rapid delivery, and seamless integration with partner nations. With Sweden using the same configuration and the Netherlands contributing key turret and APS technologies, Denmark is anchoring itself in a shared Northern European armored ecosystem that will shape NATO’s land forces well into the 2040s.
