IAV 2024: Engineering change proposals investigated for CV9035NL MLU

The CV9035NL mid-life upgrade has a new turret with a pop-up ATGM launcher, a mast-mounted commander's sight, and a hard-kill active protection system. Although the first production-standard vehicles have yet to be delivered, the RNLA is considering further upgrades for some of its subsystems. (Dutch MoD)

The Royal Netherlands Army (RNLA) is considering multiple engineering change proposals for its CV9035NL mid-life upgrade (MLU) infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), Janes learnt at Defence iQ's International Armoured Vehicles (IAV) 2024 conference held in London from 22 to 25 January.

These proposals include modifying the Elbit Systems Iron Fist Light Decoupled (IF-LD) hard-kill active protection system (APS) to enable it to perform a counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) role, integrating the Elbit Systems mast-mounted Commander Open Architecture Panoramic Sight (COAPS) with the platform's Rafael Spike LR2 anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) launcher, and adding a day channel to the driver's front and rear camera systems, which will be delivered with just a thermal channel.

An update on the programme's schedule was also provided at IAV 2024, where it was revealed that firing trials with the Spike LR2 pop-up ATGM launcher were due to start in the week commencing on 29 January. The Spike LR2 ATGM launcher allows the platform to engage heavily armoured targets such as main battle tanks, although the cannon cannot be used when the launcher is open, and the platform cannot move when a missile is being launched because the Spike LR2 uses a wire to transfer data between the missile and the launcher.

These trials will precede the completion of the first production-standard example of the CV9035NL MLU, which is scheduled to take place on 15 May 2024.