Finland orders more 6×6 CAVS vehicles

Finland has exercised part of the option to order 40 more 6×6 CAVS vehicles under the agreement for 91 vehicles signed by the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command and Patria in June 2023. (Patria)

The Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) is procuring 40 more 6×6 Common Armoured Vehicle Systems (CAVS), prime contractor Patria announced in a press release on 4 January. The FDF was exercising part of the option for 70 vehicles in the agreement for 91 vehicles signed by the FDF Logistics Command and Patria in June 2023.

CAVS production and deliveries for Finland began during the fourth quarter of 2023, Liisa Nevalainen, CAVS project director in the Land Systems Division of the FDF Logistics Command's Joint Systems Centre, confirmed to Janes during the SAE Media Group's Future Armoured Vehicles Survivability (FAVS) 2023 conference held in London from 13 to 15 November 2023. Patria said in its 4 January press release that tens of vehicles had been handed over to the Finnish Army's Pori Brigade, where training of conscripts on operating the vehicles would start in 2024.

A Patria spokesperson on 4 January valued the 40 additional vehicles, which include armoured personnel carriers (APCs), at EUR44 million (nearly USD48.2 million). Jussi Järvinen, executive vice-president, Finland Division, Patria, told Janes on 6 June 2023 that the overall value of the procurement, including options and value-added tax, was about EUR208 million.

The FDF acquired the first three CAVS pre-series vehicles in 2022 for testing and familiarisation, and to define the final requirements for the serial production version. The Finnish Ministry of Defence and Patria signed a letter of intent in 2021 for Finland to order 160 CAVS vehicles.