The Norwegian Government's proposal to acquire new and upgraded CV-90 armoured vehicles worth Nkr10bn ($1.67bn) has received parliamentary support, Norwegian defence minister Espen Barth Eide has revealed.
In what Eide described as a 'huge boost for the army', the project will be carried out according to the guidelines set out by the finance ministry with external quality assurance controls. It will have a cost ceiling of Nkr9.34bn and include provisions for contingencies.
If finalised, the proposal will provide the army with 146 new or rebuilt CV-90 armoured vehicles, which will significantly increase the operational capabilities of Norway's armoured and telemark battalions respectively.
Manufacturing work will be carried out according to the Norwegian Ministry of Defence's (MoD) guidelines related to repurchase and industry collaboration; the majority of equipment is likely to be procured from foreign suppliers, mainly in Sweden's BAE Systems Hägglunds.
The new vehicles will feature new, upgraded and redesigned CV-90-hulls and an upgraded turret; they will form part of the MoD's future army structure.
In addition, the vehicles will provide the Norwegian Army with new capabilities, such as network integration and improved protection in the form of a remotely controlled weapon station, as well as rubber tracks for increased accessibility.
As well as providing the army with improved combat firepower and increased safety for their crews, the new vehicles will also prove to be useful in domestic operations, Eide added.
The Norwegian Army currently has 103 CV-90 armoured personnel carriers, originally acquired from the mid-1990s. The MoD also has plans to acquire unmanned ground and aerial vehicles, different types of sensors and ground communications.
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