BAE Systems modernizing Sweden's CV90 vehicles

KARLSKOGA, Sweden, March 30 (UPI) -- BAE Systems is to refurbish hundreds of Swedish Army armored vehicles under a contract issued by the Swedish government.

A total of 262 CV90 tracked vehicles are involved in the refurbishment, which is will begin immediately.

Company work will include refurbishing the chassis and upgrading the vehicle's survivability and weapon turrets, as well as enhancing combat system performance.

"This is a very important program for BAE Systems and the Swedish Army," said Lena Gillstrom, managing director of BAE Systems Weapons Systems in Karlskoga, Sweden, which builds the turrets. "With this refurbishment and the introduction of the new Battlefield Management System, these vehicles will take a step into the era of digitized defense to strengthen the Army's capability to meet future threats."

BAE Systems said it will work closely with the Swedish Army throughout the program and will begin to deliver the refurbished vehicles in 2018. The value of the contract was not disclosed.