WARSAW, Poland — As Slovakia readies to acquire new battle tanks for its military, the country’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák has announced his ministry is considering the CV90120, a light tracked vehicle, as one of the options.
Meanwhile, local opposition politicians say that, while the vehicle could be an alternative to purchasing main battle tanks, the Slovak defense budget is already strained, and funding for the acquisition is at risk.
Last year, Bratislava unveiled plans to buy new tanks, and local observers say the nation intends to purchase up to 104 such vehicles. Made by BAE Systems Hägglunds, the CV90120 would compete against other tracked vehicles considered by the Slovak ministry, which are said to include new Leopard 2A8 tanks from German manufacturer KNDS or used 2A4s, an older Leopard variant that would be modernized by Slovakia’s defense industry.
Kaliňák claims that buying CV90120s would be significantly less expensive than acquiring Leopard 2A8s, which are pursued by neighboring Czech Republic. Slovakia has not bought new tanks since declaring independence in 1993, and it needs to replace its outdated Soviet-designed T-72M1s. Germany transferred 15 2A4s to Slovakia after the nation donated its BVP-1 infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine.
Jaroslav Naď, Slovakia’s former defense minister who chairs the opposition Demokrati (Democrats) party, told Defense News that, during his term at the ministry, a deal to buy 152 CV90 MkIV vehicles was signed, and Bratislava started to analyze the potential benefits of using the same platform to cover light tank needs.
“The CV90120 is an interesting offer because it uses the same platform as the CV90 that Slovakia will operate, but has a different cannon. However, it is a light vehicle, as opposed to the heavy Leopard tank which weighs around twice as much,” Naď said.
“The CV90120 would be cheaper than new Leopard 2A8s, but not by as much as Kaliňák claims,” he added. “Slovakia’s defense budget is already undermined by cuts and inefficient spending on construction projects outside the ministry’s scope.”
The cuts could amount to €700 million, or $718 million, in 2025, Naď said, citing documents released by the government’s Finance Ministry.
Defense News has contacted the Slovak Ministry of Defence for comment.
Jaroslaw Adamowski is the Poland correspondent for Defense News.
