Lacking artillery, Ukraine turns CV90 into self-propelled artillery

The Ukrainian army is using CV90 infantry fighting vehicles donated by Sweden to move troops, evacuate the wounded, and even perform fire support roles if necessary. This is considered customization according to battlefield requirements.

The Ukrainian conflict has long been a war of position and attrition. This reality has had a profound impact on the use of a wide range of weapons, from artillery to armored vehicles.

In this context, even wheeled self-propelled guns - which previously could avoid damage thanks to their high mobility - are now forced to operate from pre-arranged closed fortifications, to counter both return fire and suicide drones.

The second option may sound strange, but it is another response to changes on the battlefield. In a full-scale conflict, the role of "improvised" self-propelled artillery is increasingly being played.

Finally, this is happening with infantry fighting vehicles carrying small automatic guns, which, although designed to provide direct fire support to infantry, are also capable of indirect fire, allowing them to pour fire on the enemy without taking additional risks.

The CV90 infantry fighting vehicle is equipped with a 40mm automatic cannon, capable of suppressing troops and even destroying light armor. Of course, even with all the improvements, indirect fire support is still not the standard mode for infantry fighting vehicles.

The Ukrainian military appreciates the CV90's armor protection, speed and powerful weapons. That's why this vehicle is a good solution when used for direct fire support.

However, even with all the improvements, indirect fire support remains a non-standard role for infantry fighting vehicles. This approach is imprecise and short-range.

Assigning the role of an alternative howitzer to an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) is a measure that is forced by battlefield realities. The same situation applies to anti-drone nets, which are widely used on armored vehicles and even wheeled self-propelled howitzers.

Regarding the CV90, the Ukrainian army appreciates its strong protection, high speed and powerful weapons. Therefore, this is a good solution for direct use. The battlefield always has different customizations and it does not exclude the possibility that conventional infantry fighting vehicles will also take on the role of self-propelled anti-aircraft guns in the near future.