Finland-based mobility developer Patria has received a contract to provide 321 6×6 armored all-terrain vehicles to the Swedish Armed Forces.
Costing 470 million euros ($508 million), the agreement was facilitated under the Common Armored Vehicle System (CAVS) program, which aims to integrate a ground fleet into different European militaries based on their requirements.
The vehicles will be designated Pansarterrängbil 300 in Stockholm and be stationed at Kungsängen, with most to be supplied to the Swedish Army’s Livgardet combined cavalry/infantry regiment.
Sweden’s defense acquisition arm (FMV) wrote that the initial CAVS batch under the contract will include troop transport variants and is scheduled to arrive in 2025. Additional vehicle configurations are set for delivery through 2030.
“Close and good cooperation with the Swedish Armed Forces, Patria, the Finnish Armed Forces and Finland, which is the lead nation in the CAVS cooperation, has been a prerequisite for getting this order in such a short time,” FMV Armored Vehicle Manager Johan Lampinen stated.
“Transparency and good communication are prerequisites when it comes to forced procurement where everything happens very quickly, which is incredibly important with the global situation we find ourselves in.”
In April 2023, Stockholm signed a separate contract with Patria for 20 CAVS in the armored carrier configuration.
Patria 6×6 Vehicle
Patria’s 6×6 vehicle is based on the company’s older 8×8 armored military vehicle. In 2020, the new platform was announced as the model selected for the multinational CAVS initiative.
The platform measures 25 feet (7.6 meters) and can accommodate a commander, driver, an optional gunner, and up to 10 passengers.
It is powered by a Scania 394 horsepower diesel engine for a maximum speed of more than 100 kilometers (60 miles) per hour on the ground and up to 8 kilometers (5 miles) per hour in water.
The 6×6 system has the capacity for up to 8,500 kilograms (18,700 pounds) of payload and can integrate medium-caliber direct-fire weapons, machine guns, and turret mortars.
Common Armored Vehicle System Program
Sweden joined the CAVS program in June 2022. Finland, Latvia, and Estonia launched the effort two years before Stockholm’s participation. Germany then joined the consortium in April 2023.
“Sweden is an increasingly important market for us, and we are glad to be able to support the Swedish Armed Forces at a time of their significant expansion,” Patria Nordics Market SVP Mats Warstedt stated.
“Pansarterrängbil 300 vehicle is an excellent example of Finnish-Swedish cooperation as the vehicle is designed for Nordic conditions from the start and significant value is provided by Swedish suppliers, such as the engine and the steel of its armour.”
Last month, Patria teamed with German defense contractors to pitch the 6×6 platform as a replacement for Berlin’s aging Fuchs wheeled armored fleet.