BSDA 2024: BAE Systems to pitch AMPV, CV90, and Archer to Romania

The AMPV (seen here in the M1284 Medical Evacuation variant) made its international debut at DSEI in September 2023. Following this, it is planned to be offered to the Romanian army as a potential candidate for an upcoming IFV procurement programme. (Janes/Sonny Butterworth)

BAE Systems has revealed to Janes that it is offering its CV90 tracked infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), Armored Multipurpose Vehicle (AMPV) family of tracked armoured fighting vehicles, and its Archer self-propelled howitzer (SPH) to the Romanian army.

In an interview with Janes on 24 May at the Black Sea Defense and Aerospace (BSDA) exhibition in Bucharest, Paul Zukowski, Director, International Business Development – Europe at BAE Systems, explained that it intends to offer the Romanian army a choice of either the CV90 Mk IV, the AMPV, or potentially both platforms for an anticipated IFV procurement tender.

Janes understands that while the programme's requirements are yet to be finalised and a request for proposal (RFP) has not been issued, the Romanian army is seeking to procure 298 vehicles with variants including IFVs, self-propelled mortars, and command vehicles.

Explaining the rationale for offering the AMPV, Zukowski highlighted that “it's a digital platform that's designed to be configured quickly and easily to different customer expectations” using its External Mission Equipment Package (ExMEP), an interface that sits on top of the hull to facilitate the integration of different turrets. BAE Systems has previously used the ExMEP to demonstrate how the AMPV can be adapted to the counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS), self-propelled mortar, and IFV roles.