Yesterday, the Ministry of Defense of Finland announced that Germany is fully joining the agreement for the development of the 6×6 CAVS (Common Armored Vehicle System), a project led by the company Patria Land Oy. The process began in 2023 when Germany expressed its intention to join the CAVS program, joining the partnership that also includes Sweden and Latvia.
Germany’s decision extends beyond production within the CAVS program; it also includes the planned acquisition of Patria 6×6 APCs to replace its old fleet of FUCHS vehicles, which it has possessed since 1979 and was forced to modernize in 2016. In essence, the agreement will allow the German defense industry to participate in future technological developments of the system.
Finland’s Minister of Defense, Antti Häkkänen, made the following statements: “Countries participating in the CAVS project benefit from joint product development, joint acquisitions, and lifecycle management. The program is a great example of the increased cooperation the EU requires in defense and the European industry (…) Cooperation with Germany has been excellent at all levels, so on behalf of the CAVS countries, Finland, Sweden, and Latvia, I warmly welcome Germany to the product development cooperation program.”
Regarding the CAVS program, it was initiated in 2020 to develop a 6×6 armored vehicle system for the signatory countries of the agreement, initially Finland and Latvia, but opening doors to more interested countries such as Germany and Sweden. To date, orders for over 700 units have been received (160 for Finland and 200 for Latvia), with delivery already underway gradually.
As for the features of the Patria 6×6 APC, the flagship of the CAVS program, it features weaponry including a 40mm grenade launcher and a 12.7mm heavy machine gun. For propulsion, the armored vehicle has a turbocharged Scania DC 09/4-T diesel engine, complemented by a hydraulic winch system from Katsa VV 100. The vehicle measures approximately 8.2 meters long by 3 meters wide and 2.8 meters high; it weighs 22,000 kilograms and has a payload capacity of approximately 2,000 kilograms.
*Images used for illustrative purposes.
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