Swedish Army Tests First CV90 Mortar Vehicles...is it me or did the CV90 suddenly get old?

via Defense Aerospace.

For the first time, the Swedish Armed Forces will be able to shoot, reload ammunition and operate the CV90 mortar vehicle while protected.

Two of the mortar carriers that FMV received from the industry this week are now being used by the Army Ground Combat School for training instructors. The vehicles receive high marks from the prospective instructors. "Easier and smoother than I could imagine," says Master Sgt. Joakim Kylstad.

To the proven Combat Vehicle 90 system has been added an embedded grenade launcher (mortar) function, giving increased ability to support units by being faster at moving into battery, firing and moving, otherwise known as “shoot and scoot” in artillery circles.

The first four vehicles are now available and will be used for training, methodology tests and system validation. Recently, the first training was conducted by the Armed Forces' future instructors.

“This is the first time we can load up with ammunition, shoot and drive away. While we are training future instructors, we are also gaining experience that we can use to improve the system, technically as well as in operational tactics, until the production vehicles are delivered,” says Major Nils Carlsson at the development unit at the Swedish Armed Forces Ground Fighting School.

A platoon with conventional towed mortars can prepare to fire in ten minutes, while with the Granatkastarpansarbandvagn 90 (Armored Grenade Launcher Vehicle, or Grkpbv90), the platoon must be able to do it in two minutes and also be ready to move on less than one minute after firing the last round.

Master Sgt. Joakim Kylstad was one of the participants in the instructor training. He notes that they are not there in time. “We are still an inexperienced crew, but still we can group in about five minutes, but it is still much better.”

Wow.  I'm looking at this thing and I really like it.  I also noticed that Poland is doing the same and I'm crossing my fingers, knocking on wood that the USMC eventually adopts the same for the ACV (the concept if not the same weapon system).

But I noticed something else too.

For some reason I can't explain the BAE CV90 suddenly looks old.  Maybe I'm looking at all the new designs coming out and ignoring the fact that the CV90 has been steadily updated with new tech.

But the image remains.

Old tech.

I hope BAE is working on it cause I'm sure that's played a part in it being non-competitive in recent tenders.