Denmark orders 130 Patria 6x6 armoured vehicles from Finland as it joins the European CAVS program.

On April 1, 2025, Denmark signed the Technical Arrangement to formally join the multinational Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) program. This makes Denmark the fifth participating country, following Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Germany. The CAVS program, initiated in 2019 by Finland and Latvia, aims to jointly develop, procure, and manage a 6x6 armoured wheeled vehicle platform based on the Patria 6x6 design. The program remains open to additional European nations with compatible equipment requirements, subject to the approval of current participants.
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Following Denmark’s CAVS accession, the country announced the procurement of 130 6x6 armoured personnel carriers from the Finnish manufacturer Patria. (Picture source: Patria)

Following Denmark’s accession, the country announced the procurement of 130 6x6 armoured personnel carriers from the Finnish manufacturer Patria. The total value of the acquisition is approximately 1,9 milliarder kroner (around €247 million), financed via the Danish government’s Accelerationsfonden. The purchase is intended to contribute to the reconstitution and modernization of the Danish Armed Forces. A limited number of vehicles are already scheduled for delivery in 2025 for training and familiarization purposes. Larger deliveries are expected from 2026 onward.

The acquired vehicles will be used for the build-up of combat capability in both the light infantry battalion and the heavy brigade. The vehicles will be used by both infantry and engineer units and serve in various roles, including command post, communications, ambulances, and electronic warfare.

The Patria 6x6, also designated as Patria XA-300, is a six-wheeled armoured personnel carrier developed and manufactured by Patria. The vehicle is designed to carry two or three crew members and up to ten troops. It features a DC09 Scania inline-5 diesel engine with 294 kW of output and 1,870 Nm of torque. The vehicle has a payload capacity of 8.5 tonnes and can reach speeds of over 100 km/h on land and up to 8 km/h in water. Operational range is up to 700 km. The standard vehicle protection is rated at STANAG 4569 Level K2/M2a/b, with optional upgrades to Level K4/M4a/b. Suspension options include independent coil springs or hydropneumatic systems.

The layout places the driver and commander in the front, with the engine located behind the driver and the troop compartment in the rear. A passage on the right side allows internal movement between the front and rear compartments. The vehicle chassis is based on structures and components from the Patria AMVXP platform. Modular configuration options allow for the installation of various weapons systems, including machine guns, 25 mm or 30 mm automatic cannons, and the Patria NEMO 120 mm turreted mortar system. The expected service life of the platform exceeds 30 years.

The Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) program emphasizes interoperability between participating countries, joint procurement to achieve economies of scale, and integration of national industrial capabilities to reinforce the security of supply. The majority of vehicle manufacturing involves the domestic industries of member countries. In Latvia, Patria vehicles are produced at a facility in Valmiera, which is capable of manufacturing up to 160 units per year. In Germany, Patria has partnered with DSL (part of KNDS Deutschland) and FFG for local production. Similar integration of local industry is expected for future participants.

Patria has received cumulative orders exceeding 850 Patria 6x6 vehicles, with over 200 units already delivered. Deliveries are ongoing to Finland, Latvia, and Sweden, where the vehicles are in operational use. Latvia has ordered over 250 units, including 56 configured for command and control roles. Finland has ordered 161 vehicles, including an initial batch of three pre-series units for testing that will be delivered in 2022. Sweden has ordered 341 vehicles under the designation “Pansarterrängbil 300,” with deliveries beginning in 2023 and continuing through 2030. Germany began its accession to the CAVS program in 2022 and signed the Technical Arrangement in 2023. In early 2025, Germany requested a binding offer for an initial 300-vehicle order.

The CAVS program received €60 million in 2024 from the European Defence Industry Reinforcement Instrument through Joint Procurement (EDIRPA), supporting European defence cooperation and procurement. The Danish procurement aligns with this broader initiative. Under Denmark’s Accelerationsfonden, 50 milliarder kroner (approximately €6.5 billion) are allocated to strengthen defense capabilities in 2025 and 2026, with a framework of 10 milliarder kroner (around €1.3 billion) annually from 2027 to 2033 for additional personnel, infrastructure, and equipment costs linked to such investments.