BAE Systems has adapted Formula One race car technology for tracked CV90 armored vehicles, increasing their speed and stability.

The technology, called Active Damping, is an upgrade for CV90s and the results are the breaking of speed records in rough terrain by the armored vehicles and a 40 percent reduction of vehicle pitch acceleration.

"Adapting the Active Damping system for the first time from a light weight car to a heavy tracked vehicle such as CV90 was a unique challenge for us, but this advanced technology will deliver results to our customers in terms of vehicle performance and savings on the through life costs, as well as providing real benefits to the front line soldier," said Dan Lindell, CV90 Platform Manager at BAE Systems.

The Active Damping system senses the speed of the vehicle and layout of the terrain ahead and responds by pressurizing the suspension to keep the vehicle on a level plane. The resultant stability helps reduce wear and tear on the vehicle, reduces through-life repair costs, and makes for a smoother ride, with a reduction in fatigue for vehicle crew.

The adaption of Active Damping technology for heavy vehicles was performed by BAE Systems Hägglunds in Sweden.

The CV90, which comes in a number of variants, is a family of tracked vehicles which first came into service in the 1990s. Seven European countries currently operate the vehicles.