Finland picks up Patria 6x6 options
Finland placed an initial order for vehicles in June 2023. (Photo: Patria)
The Finnish Defence Forces Logistic Command has exercised an option to buy an additional 40 Patria 6x6 armoured vehicles, taking part of the option for 70 vehicles which was included in a contract for 91 vehicles signed in June 2023.
Announcing the new contract, Patria stated that the first 10s of vehicles have already been handed over to Pori brigade where the vehicle operation training for conscripts will start soon.
Jussi Järvinen, executive vice-president of Patria’s Finland Division, said: ‘The purchase is part of the multinational CAVS (Common Armoured Vehicle System) programme which, in addition to Finland, includes Latvia, Sweden and Germany.
‘During 2023 deliveries commenced also to Sweden and deliveries to Latvia have been underway since 2021,’ Järvinen continued. ‘The joint programme’s research and development agreement was signed at the end of 2020 and since the deliveries have already taken place in three countries in three years.’
In January 2020, the Finnish Ministry of Defence and Latvia signed a Technical Arrangement to develop the Patria 6x6 armoured wheeled vehicle chassis platform. The selection of the Patria 6x6 as the basis for the programme followed national and multinational testing and evaluation.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
Hungary set to begin using Hero 400 loitering munitions
Developed by Israel's Uvision and with systems being sold in the thousands to multiple European NATO countries and the US, the Hero family of loitering systems is also in production in the US and Italy, the latter through Rheinmetall.
-
Light Reconnaissance Strike – enabling a vital mission set (Studio)
A new system-of-systems concept will unlock digital integration of sensors and weapons for Light Forces, allowing them to shape the battlefield environment on their own terms and upgrade legacy platforms.
-
Lockheed Martin to look further afield for GMARS rocket system opportunities
The HX truck is already in use in many NATO and allied countries around the world as a logistics vehicle and carrier for high-value systems, including missile firing weapons, so its use for the Global Mobile Artillery Rocket System makes logistical sense.