Finnish Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen has approved the procurement of 91 Patria 6×6 armored personnel carriers for the Finnish Army.
Alongside the vehicles, the sale will provide user and maintenance training, associated parts and tools, as well as an additional option for up to 70 personnel carriers.
The order is valued at 208 million euros ($222 million), with the deliveries beginning later this year.
Once completed, the armored personnel carriers are expected to support the Finnish Army’s mobility for the next four decades.
“Finland’s serial order is a remarkable milestone for the entire CAVS programme. With this order, Patria 6×6 armoured vehicles are already being manufactured in Hämeenlinna, Finland for three countries,” Patria Finland Executive Vice President Jussi Järvinen stated.
“This serial order is the largest vehicle agreement between Patria and the Finnish Defence Forces in many decades.”
“In Finland, Patria 6×6 vehicles continue in the footsteps of XA-series vehicles, better known as Pasi, as we continue to develop the performance and mobility of the Finnish Army at least until the 2060s, or even longer.”
Common Armored Vehicle System Program
The procurement is part of Patria’s multinational Common Armored Vehicle System (CAVS) program, which seeks to integrate new wheeled systems for Finnish, Swedish, Latvian, and German warfighters.
Finland acquired three pre-series vehicles in 2022 to conduct tests prior to the procurement.
This phase enabled the Finnish Army to familiarize itself with the features and operational use of the Patria 6×6 vehicles, defining the requirements for the future fleet.
Germany joined the CAVS program in April 2023, a year after Sweden announced its participation.
In 2021, Latvia placed a $237 million order for more than 200 Patria armored personnel carriers. Deliveries for the vehicles began the same year and are set to be completed in 2029.