CV90 Armadillo.

Defense News is reporting that the CV90 will be at Eurosatory.

"This is a concept of a flexible family of vehicles of modular type built around the CV90 platform," said Hakan Karlsson, vice president of marketing communications for BAE Global Combat Systems in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden.
An ideal armored combat vehicle, Karlsson said, offers a balance between high mobility, high payload and extremely high protection; should have a practical and effective interface for digitally equipped soldiers and the digital battlespace; should be reliable and affordable; and above all, offer a low logistics footprint. This has been the ethos behind the development of the Armadillo build standard, Karlsson told journalists May 27 in a London briefing.

This is an exciting vehicle that should easily fulfill a number of needs.  The US Army is looking for a Bradley replacement in the GCV concept.  The US Marine Corps is looking for a Marine Personnel Carrier.

The CV90 Armadillo looks capable of filling both roles.  Lets be honest.  The idea of whether or not you want your personnel carrier engaging in duels with other fighting vehicles is dubious at best.  Carried Infantry is the weapon of choice and providing covering fire and transporting them safely is the main role of these vehicles.  Mobility and speed count for far more.  Mobility comes in several different forms.  Strategic---does it fit on ships and aircraft---Tactical---can it keep up with the M1 Abrams in all environments...Those are the questions that the Army and Marines need to be asking.  The GCV won't and as currently spec'ed the MPC can't.

The CV90 Armadillo will.

BAE provided the above pics and stats are to follow shortly.

Hopefully they'll also provide visibility on any work being done to the legacy AAV.  If the EFV is canceled then a crash upgrade program will need to be conducted (to probably include new build vehicles) to maintain them for another 15 to 20 years.  I'm hoping for engine, weapon and even hull upgrades ---with an eye toward increased sea speed---but we'll see.

Note.  BAE has stated that they don't plan on offering this vehicle for the GCV program.  The idea to do so originates here.

Information on this vehicle is practically nill.  But from a visual look-see it has.

1.  RWS.  Its mounting a 50 caliber machine gun but I imagine its scalable.  BAE has done mock-ups with RWS' as large as 35mm cannons.  I doubt that this could handle that but a compact ATK 25mm cannon seems within the realm of possible options.
2.  Trophy?  I don't know if those 'items' at the corners of the vehicle are a version of Trophy or another system but it appears that they're making it known that some type of anti-missile system is available...or at the very least, room is made for it.
3.  Grenade launchers.  Steerable?  I found this very interesting.  Some have proposed that the ubiquitous grenade launcher can be used in an anti-personnel role.  Not sure it thats the case here or if its just part of the vehicle defense system.
4.  Vehicle Commander sitting directly behind the driver.  Nicely done and a benefit that few outside the tracked community fully realize.

Questions  left to be answered.

1.  How many troops does it carry?
2.  Any allowance made for IED protection?  I know that it does, but they can say it to keep the critics at bay.
3.  Why does it ride so low?  Can its suspension be adjusted?
4.  There was a system developed and tested on the SEP to defeat anti-tank missiles...is that available on this?

Hmm.  I do believe I'm in love.