The Czech Republic has awarded BAE Systems a contract for 246 CV90 IFVs. (BAE Systems Hägglunds)

The Czech Republic has awarded BAE Systems a CZK49.3 billion (USD2.2 billion) contract for 246 CV90 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs). The contract was announced at the end of the first day of the International Defence and Security Technology Fair (IDET) 2023 being held in Brno, Czech Republic, from 24 to 26 May.

The Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a press release on 24 May that the order also includes 29 workshop vehicles, training, spare parts, and other accessories. A BAE Systems Hägglunds spokesperson told Janesat IDET that deliveries would begin with 10 vehicles starting in 2026 and run until 2030.

Hungary received the first four of 12 Leopard 2A4HU tanks in July 2020. (Hungarian government)

Brigadier General Gábor Lőrincz, commander of the Hungarian Defence Forces' land forces, outlined lessons learned from Hungary's transition to the Leopard 2 main battle tank (MBT) at SAE Media's Future Armoured Vehicles Central and Eastern Europe 2023 conference in Prague.

Hungarian forces have received a company of 12 Leopard 2A4 tanks that will be used to train crews and technicians as the country undertakes efforts to switch its MBT fleet from the T-72 to the Leopard 2. The initial 12 Leopard 2A4s will serve as a bridge between the T-72 and the more advanced Leopard 2A7HU that will begin to arrive from 2023 onwards. Forty-four vehicles are on order from Rheinmetall.

Brig Gen Lőrincz said that the tank force will be propelled from using adequate late-Cold War technology to modern systems, which presents immense challenges in training crews and maintainers. The Hungarians are also ordering support vehicles such as armoured recovery vehicles and armoured vehicle-launched bridge platforms, all based on the Leopard 2.

The New Zealand Army has received the first batch of 18 Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles from Thales Australia. The above picture shows a Bushmaster in service with the Australian Army. (Australian Department of Defence)

The New Zealand Army has inducted the first batch of Bushmaster 4×4 Protected Mobility Vehicles at the Trentham Military Camp located in Upper Hutt near Wellington.

According to a press release by New Zealand's Defence Minister Andrew Little, the army has received 18 Bushmasters.

In July 2020 New Zealand approved the procurement of 43 Bushmasters from Thales Australia to replace the army's ageing armoured Pinzgauer Light Operational Vehicles (LOVs). The contract was worth NZD102.9 million (USD62 million).

“The remainder of the Bushmaster vehicles will arrive in batches throughout 2023. They are being tested and certified for use at Trentham Military Camp, before being sent to their home bases,” Little said.

Little said the arrival of the first batch of the Bushmaster fleet represents an uplift in capability and protection for defence force personnel.

The Bushmaster vehicles can carry more troops and provide better blast and ballistic protection than armoured Pinzgauer vehicles, Little added.