MCG said:
What capability gap would it fill? What doctrinal role would it take? Where would the support fleet come from? Is it the best vehicle for our requirements? Hell, what are our requirements and how do we measure which vehicle meets them? Rushing off to buy a major fleet because "because I think the CV90 is a decent piece of kit" could land us with the wrong decent piece of kit (in which case maybe we'd be better without it).
As I have said elsewhere, we are cursed with having 2 distinct and opposing requirements, the domestic defence and the need for an expeditionary force that could be fielded anywhere from the tropics to the Arctic, from peacekeeping, peacemaking and all out war. Whatever happens, we will not have the time to create more capability, so I see the need for at least one heavy element equipped with heavier tracked vehicles and rest in lighter vehicles such as the LAV and it's successors. So far the CV90 has seem to have demonstrated a good cross country ability in snow and still successfully operated in the tropics. It has already been intergrated with Leo2's by other country with some similarities to our needs (Sweden).
While the gun is different, a some point you are going to have to move on beyond what we are currently using, the CV90 could be fitted with the same gun as the LAV, but it would seem to be a waste of the platform abilities, the larger calibre guns do offer more options for fuzing and higher HE content. The Warrior was fitted with the same gun as the Scimitar to be "standard" with the rest of the fleet and now you have a large modern platform using a decent but old gun with a limited rate of fire.
As far as doctrine goes, the CV90 is in service and by people we can consider allies, a review of doctrinal lessons already learned can be done, so we don't reinvent the wheel. I think the LAV is a great piece of kit, but I know it is not a wonder weapon and like all is constrained by it's design to certain roles which it does well. the CV90 (or similar) would give us a far broader doctrine and tactical ability to bring to the mix. Our army maintained a much more diverse equipment roster in the field in WWII, Korea and Cold war Germany without the benefits of computerized logistical systems. Lets face it, if we can't handle having a tracked IFV, MBT and the LAV fielded at once, then our supply & logistical system is completely broken.
The CV90 family also offers a fairly complete family to support operations, IFV, engineering, SPG, Direct fire, HQ, ADA and I suspect they could also build a resupply vehicle on the chassis. Of all the contenders in this field, I suspect it is the most capable and flexible and comes with the knowledge that it is in service and seen service in a variety of climates.
I can't see us getting either.
