BAE Systems Hagglunds Awarded Additional Grkpbv 90 Self-propelled Mortars Order from Swedish Army

The Swedish Armed Forces Materiel Administration (Försvarets materielverk, FMV) has placed an order at Hägglund Bofors Utveckling (the joint venture between BAE Systems Bofors AB and BAE Systems Hagglunds AB) for twenty additional Grkpbv 90 (Granatkastaranscarband 90, Tracked Armoured Mortar Vehicle 90) self-propelled mortars. The order value is approximately SEK 500 million and delivery to the Swedish Army (Svenska armen) is planned for 2023 to 2025. The first units were scheduled delivered in January 2019 and all 40 self-propelled mortars delivered by 2020.

A CV 90 fitted with two 120 mm mortars. The Combat Vehicle 90 (CV90; Sw. Stridsfordon 90, Strf90) is a family of Swedish tracked combat vehicles. The 40 CV90 hulls for this project had already been purchased by 2003 and were originally intended to be equipped with the Patria Advanced Mortar System. For economic reasons, Genomförandegruppen recommended against it and the AMOS order was canceled with the vehicles put in storage until BAE Systems AB received a contract in December 2016 to install Mjölner 120 mm mortars on the 40 CV90s to increase the indirect fire capability of mechanized battalions.

Mjölner is a turret solution with two smoothbore 120 mm gun barrels mounted on the actual vehicle. Mjölner gives a full 60 degrees of slew in azimuth without the complexity and costs of powered turret rotation. With an elevation from 45 to 85 degrees, targets can be effectively engaged over a wide range of distances. Grkpbv90 will meet the current criteria when it comes to firing rate, and they will be considerably faster to group and move, as all the equipment and personnel are inside the vehicle, together with their own navigation system, POS2. Grkpbv90 will have increased ability to support the armor units by being faster at grouping, shooting and regrouping.

The vehicle mounted mortar system Mjölner, developed and produced by BAE Systems Hägglunds, will increase the indirect fire capability to support mechanized battalions. A platoon with towed mortars moves in ten minutes, while the Grkpbv90 can do it two minutes, and is also ready to move one minute after having fired the last round. Mjölner is the hammer of Thor in Norse mythology and is depicted as one of the most fearsome weapons, capable of leveling mountains. A step-change solution on the battlefield. Easy training, simple to use and highly effective. Mjölner is the hammer in the fist of the military user.