For decades, Slovakia’s mechanized units have relied on BMP-1 and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles inherited from the former Czechoslovak arsenal. Although maintained and partially upgraded, these platforms were designed for a different era of warfare. Their limited armor protection, vulnerability to mines and improvised explosive devices, analog targeting systems, and absence of networked battlefield management capabilities increasingly restricted operational effectiveness. Recent conflicts, particularly in Eastern Europe, have demonstrated the vulnerability of legacy IFVs against precision-guided munitions, loitering drones, and modern anti-tank weapons.
The CV9035 Mk IV introduces a comprehensive generational upgrade. The Slovak configuration is armed with the 35 mm Bushmaster III cannon, offering enhanced range, penetration, and programmable airburst capability compared to the BMP-1’s 73 mm gun and the BMP-2’s 30 mm autocannon. Integrated with an advanced digital fire control system and stabilized turret, the weapon system enables accurate firing on the move and effective engagement in low-visibility conditions. This dramatically improves the lethality and flexibility of Slovak mechanized infantry formations.
