BAE Systems Hägglunds has signed an agreement with Rheinmetall Weapon and Ammunition to integrate Rheinmetall’s 120 mm L44A1 Low Recoil gun onto a new CV90120 prototype built on the CV90 MkIV chassis, the companies announced on 8 October 2025.
The deal pairs Rheinmetall’s high pressure 120 mm L44A1 LR gun with a CV90-based vehicle that BAE says will receive a new engine, heavy duty transmission, active damping, an upgraded electronic architecture and an active protection system, according to the company.
Rheinmetall describes the gun as compatible with all NATO standard 120 mm rounds and capable of firing programmable three mode high explosive rounds such as the DM11 as well as enhanced kinetic energy rounds, the press release said.
BAE frames the CV90120 as delivering main battle tank level direct firepower while retaining the tactical and strategic mobility of the CV90 family, a combination the companies say will reduce cost for customers that already operate or plan to operate CV90s, the company stated. BAE also highlighted commonality benefits for training and spare parts across forces that use CV90 family vehicles.
“Our customers will benefit from the combined expertise and resources of our two companies, resulting in a solution that offers enhanced firepower, protection, and mobility – a winning combination on the modern battlefield,” Tarkan Turkcan, CV90 platform director, is quoted as saying in the press release. The release adds that BAE Systems Hägglunds has produced over 1,400 CV90s in 17 variants for 10 European nations, a pedigree the company says underpins the upgrade programme.
The companies position the CV90120 as an option for armies seeking heavier direct fire capability without adopting a traditional heavier main battle tank chassis, and they say the integration will help militaries seeking a balance of firepower and mobility while preserving logistics commonality with existing CV90 fleets.
If Britain requires an extra armoured division fast, and it does, at circa £10m/unit, CV90120 makes a great deal of sense, offers a good solution; mixed armoured regiments of (overwatch) heavy and medium tanks once more…..
So it won’t happen.
Dont understand why we never bought the CV90 series anyway.
Politicians and the MoD are stupid thats why.
Blair’s Britain. Ajax produced jobs in Wales.
GDLS will, no doubt, be lobbying for ASCOD IFV business with, no doubt, a 120mm turreted variant.
The Ajax program problems will not help their cause: jobs versus fit for role (but ‘jobs’ wins every time)
One detail though…
Under Blair, we had FRES.
The Wales jobs in poor area in old tractor factory thing was 2015 and Cameron.
Agree it is jobs every time, neither Labour or Conservatives in their current forms give a jot for Defence.
Quite agree with you.
At one point in history, the use of a 120mm gun on a medium-sized platform would result in a rapid degradation of the vehicle’s overall integrity. In plain language, ‘shake the life out of the thing’ hence, the MBT, as we know it.
Rheinmetall describes this as a high pressure version of the L44 used on the Abrams. Not sure how low recoil is achieved but CV 90 at@35 tons is a bit light for such a gun.
The intended 120 mm L44A1 LR (Low Recoil) gun has a massive muzzle brake and other features designed to reduce recoil which, apparently, avoids damaging the vehicle.
The design dates back to 1998. Has it undergone exhaustive trials to evidence vehicle integrity after having fired several hundred 120mm rounds? Probably not….
The vehicle itself now weighs 40 tons so may incorporate enhanced structural integrity to cope.
The Russo-Ukraine war seems likely to run and run so Britain/NATO need to get their act together to prevent it spilling over into NATO member states…but, unfortunately (and dangerously), no urgency is evident….