Netherlands Tightens CV90 Training, Maintenance after 2024’s Fatal Accident in Germany

The Netherlands has introduced new safety measures for its CV90 infantry vehicles following a fatal accident during a 2024 military exercise in Germany, aiming to reduce mechanical risks and improve driver readiness.

The March 2024 incident at the Hohenfels training ground killed a 28-year-old soldier and injured another from the 43 Mechanized Brigade. The CV90 rolled backward after hitting a boulder, likely due to engine stalling and loss of grip on rocky terrain.

Following an investigation by the Defence Safety Inspectorate (IVD), the Dutch Ministry of Defence is now enforcing two key changes: more frequent replacement of fuel and water separation filters in CV90s, and updated driver training with more time allocated for familiarization with foreign terrain.

The clogged fuel filter was identified as a possible cause of power loss during the uphill maneuver. The IVD had shared interim results, which led Defence to begin implementing changes even before the final report was released.

The Driving and Recovery Training Centre (OTCRij) has since modified its CV90 driver training program. Brigade units are also adjusting exercise planning to give drivers additional time to assess local environments before operations begin.

“The lessons we learn from research contribute to the deployability and readiness of our people,” said State Secretary Gijs Tuinman, who presented the findings to the Dutch House of Representatives on July 4, 2025.

The exercise was part of a broader program involving a German armoured infantry brigade and also served as preparation for Dutch deployments to Lithuania. Tuinman said the incident is a reminder of the risks soldiers face, even in training, and emphasized the need to make dangerous work as safe as possible.