Dutch Ministry of Defense plans to sell 44 CV90 infantry fighting vehicles to Estonia

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Defence & Security News - Netherlands
 
 
Friday, October 3, 2014 09:38 AM
 
Dutch Ministry of Defense plans to sell 44 CV90 infantry fighting vehicles to Estonia
According to UPI, the Dutch Ministry of Defense will sell 44 of its new CV90 infantry fighting vehicles to Estonia, it was announced on Thursday, October 2nd. The sale, announced in the Estonian capital of Tallinn during a visit by Dutch Minister of Defense Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, comes amid tension in Estonia over Russia's annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine and machinations elsewhere in that country.
     

Dutch CV90 infantry fighting vehicle at European Union Battle Group's Exercise Quick Lion 2014
     
"Every day we are witnessing cases that demonstrate that peace is fragile and therefore it is not to be regarded as self-evident," Hennis said. "We cannot sit back and watch from the sidelines."

Estonia, once part of the Soviet Union, is a member of NATO. In February, Dutch forces will participate in military exercises in Estonia.

Dutch fighters, with other NATO aircraft, help patrol the skies over the Baltic since Baltic states have no air forces.

The Dutch Ministry of Defense said details of the sale of the armored vehicles are still being negotiated and are expected to be completed in December.

The sale of the 44 Swedish-made vehicles will leave the Netherlands with 149 CV90s in its inventory.

The Netherlands said cost-cutting was the impetus for the sale.

"The 44 CV90 are being divested as a result of the government resolution 'In the interests of the Netherlands' and the supplementary budget agreement of October 2013," the ministry said.