Finnish company Patria invests €40 million to double armored vehicle production as part of broader development strategy.

On March 26, 2025, the Finnish company Patria announced a €40 million investment to expand its armored vehicle production facility in Hämeenlinna, Finland. The planned expansion includes the construction of a new production hall, the establishment of a dedicated surface treatment area, and upgrades to the facility's existing infrastructure. According to the company, this expansion is expected to nearly double the production capacity of the Hämeenlinna site. Construction preparations have already begun, and the facility is scheduled to reach full operational capability by 2027.
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To date, Patria has received orders for more than 800 Patria 6×6 vehicles and has delivered over 200 units under the multinational Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) program. (Picture source: Patria)

Mikko Leino, Executive Vice President of Operations at Patria, stated that the company has experienced a significant increase in its order backlog, which he attributed to sustained demand for armored vehicle programs. Leino indicated that the Hämeenlinna facility upgrade is intended to accelerate delivery timelines for ongoing orders and enable the production of future products, including weapon systems and tracked vehicles. He also noted that this investment aligns with the objective of reinforcing the European Union’s Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB).

Patria has received orders for more than 800 Patria 6×6 vehicles and has delivered over 200 units under the multinational Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) program. The program currently includes Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Germany, with other European countries having expressed interest. In addition to the Hämeenlinna facility, Patria operates a production site in Valmiera, Latvia, which began manufacturing 6×6 vehicles in May 2024, which currently assembles the first batch for Ukraine. The production approach typically involves building pre-series units at Patria’s own facilities, while serial production and final deliveries are carried out in cooperation with local industries in the customer countries.

In parallel with the 6×6 program, Patria is increasing production of the AMV XP 8×8 vehicle. In August 2022, Slovakia and Finland signed a government-to-government agreement with Patria for the delivery of 76 AMV XP 8×8 vehicles to the Slovak Armed Forces. These vehicles are intended to replace legacy BMP-1 and OT-90 platforms, with deliveries scheduled from 2023 to 2027. The program includes technology transfer, with more than 40 Slovak companies participating in local production, which is expected to account for at least 40% of the total manufacturing process. Separately, in December 2022, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force selected the Patria AMV XP 8×8 to replace its Type 96 8×8 armored personnel carriers. A license agreement was signed in August 2023 between Patria and Japan Steel Works Ltd., enabling domestic production of the vehicles in Japan.

Patria is also expanding its artillery and mortar system programs. The company recently unveiled Finland's first wheeled 155mm self-propelled howitzer, the ARVE, mounted on a SISU E13TP 8×8 all-terrain truck chassis. Patria also produces the NEMO system, a 120mm turreted mortar system capable of mobile indirect fire support, which can be integrated into a range of armored vehicle and naval platforms. For instance, in January 2025, Germany and Patria signed a €50 million agreement to develop and qualify mortar variants for the German Armed Forces as part of the CAVS program. This cooperation includes the development of a self-propelled mortar variant designated CAVS NEMO 6×6, intended to improve the mobility and deployment speed of indirect fire support assets.

Furthermore, Patria retains the capability to restart production of the 155K98 155mm howitzer, a system originally developed in 1997 and produced until 2005 in Finland and under license at Abu Zaabal Engineering Industries in Egypt. Vesa Toivonen, Weapon Systems Testing Manager at Patria, stated that although full-scale production has ceased, the company continues to support the system by producing spare parts and implementing modifications—including barrel upgrades—to maintain operational capability for users such as the Finnish Army.

Patria also signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Lockheed Martin in June 2023 as part of Finland’s F-35 program. Under the agreement, Patria is responsible for producing forward fuselage assemblies for the F-35 fighter aircraft in Finland, positioning the company as a key contributor to the F-35 supply chain. Earlier, in 2021, Patria led a consortium of 19 European defense companies under the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP). This initiative aimed to develop future armored platforms, such as the Famous, and modernize existing ground combat capabilities across the European Union.

Patria is further expanding into a new domain: unmanned aerial systems and drone integration. The company has stated its objective to become a leading supplier of military drone systems by combining its defense manufacturing capabilities with agile product development and scalable production. In the summer of 2024, Patria acquired Nordic Drones, a Finnish manufacturer of professional drone systems. Through this acquisition, Patria added three drone platforms to its portfolio: Patria SKY, Patria ONE, and Patria GEO. These modular drones can be adapted to various military and security requirements.

The company is also involved in Finnish and European initiatives including the eALLIANCE and ACTUS programs, which focus on drone development and integration. According to Patria, drone systems can supplement traditional fire missions and provide reconnaissance and electronic surveillance when equipped with payloads such as the ARIS electronic reconnaissance system and the MUSCL passive radar. Patria has indicated that mass-produced drones carrying explosive payloads could complement artillery in future operations. The company also sees opportunities to contribute to Ukraine-related support measures, as the Finnish Ministry of Defence has launched a €660 million procurement initiative to purchase defense materiel from domestic companies for delivery to Ukraine.