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The agreement for 115 infantry fighting vehicles from Sweden is among the largest arms deals in Danish history.
On Friday, the Danish Defense Ministry will sign an agreement to purchase 115 Swedish CV90 infantry fighting vehicles for ten billion kroner.
Photo: Vaclav Salek/Ritzau Scanpix
Friday, December 6, 2024, 7:10 a.m.
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Updated Friday, December 6, 2024, at 7:10 AM
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The Danish Armed Forces will sign an agreement on Friday to purchase 115 Swedish infantry fighting vehicles of the CV90 model.
This is stated in a press release from the Ministry of Defense.
It is a major step towards upgrading the Army's 1st Brigade, which is one of NATO's most important requirements for Denmark.
- The infantry fighting vehicles significantly strengthen the army's combat power and are crucial for the continued work of building the brigade, says Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen (V).
The price is ten billion kroner according to TV 2, and an additional two billion kroner is being allocated for phasing in the Armed Forces' radios and communication system.
Sweden has entered into a contract with the arms manufacturer Hägglunds to purchase the combat vehicles for Sweden and Ukraine. The contract included an option for further production for Denmark, which the Swedes are letting us use.
This will bring Denmark's total to 159 vehicles. The Danish Ministry of Defence's Materiel and Procurement Agency (FMI) hails "exceptionally good cooperation".
The infantry fighting vehicle is an essential part of the heavy brigade that Denmark is building.
- With the 44 existing vehicles, we will have a total of 159 vehicles at our disposal, which gives us significant weight - also in an international perspective, says Chief of the Army, Major General Peter Boysen.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (S) has previously been shown the vehicle during a visit to a weapons factory in Sweden, with which Denmark has also signed a declaration of intent for closer cooperation.
This follows Sweden's membership in the transatlantic defense alliance NATO, which came into place after Russia invaded Ukraine and the West stepped in.
According to the Danish Ministry of Defence's Materiel and Procurement Agency (FMI), the vehicles are expected to be delivered from 2027 to 2030. This is described as a record-breaking delivery due to Swedish goodwill.
However, this is two years slower than the government's goal in a partial agreement from April 2024.
With the purchase, the Danish Defence is taking a major step towards making the Army's 1st Brigade a heavy brigade, which is a NATO requirement.
The equipment of the 1st Brigade is a key requirement from NATO, which Denmark has repeatedly been criticized for falling far short of meeting.
Due to the Ukraine war, and because Europe must increasingly manage without support from the United States, strengthening the Danish Armed Forces has become high on the political agenda.
The brigade will be used for NATO operations in, for example, the Baltic countries.
When the brigade is fully developed in a few years, it must be able to cope without help from allies. That is, with its own logistics and supplies, anti-aircraft guns and lots of armored vehicles.
However, a number of things are missing, including ammunition, heavy weapons and soldiers.
/ritzau/
