Patria from Finland signs agreement with European Commission to develop next generation armoured vehicles.

According to information released on December 17, 2021, Finnish Company Patria, as the industrial coordinator of consortium FAMOUS (European Future Highly Mobile Augmented Armoured Systems), has signed the Grant Agreement (GA) with the European Commission to start the development of the next generation armoured vehicles
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The Patria AMV XP was unveiled in 2013 during the defence exhibition in the United Kingdom, DSEI. (Picture source Army Recognition)

Patria, as the industrial coordinator of consortium FAMOUS (European Future Highly Mobile Augmented Armoured Systems), has signed the Grant Agreement (GA) with the European Commission. This funding agreement is worth 9 million euros and allows the consortium, which includes 19 leading defence companies from across the EU, to start development work of the next generation armoured vehicles. The FAMOUS consortium’s Kick-Off day was held on December 14, 2021, when the programme was officially launched together with European Commission, Participating Member States representatives and companies.

“It is great to have this project and its development work now officially underway. This FAMOUS consortium is a unique and innovative approach to develop areas of next-generation technology that can be utilized in a variety of armoured vehicles and systems – eventually in actual use”, says Jussi Järvinen, President of Patria’s Land Business Unit.

The FAMOUS consortium operates under the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP), which is a programme designed to support the competitiveness and innovation capacity of the Union's defence industry, in the perspective of the next coming steps in the context of the European Defence Fund (EDF). The FAMOUS programme aims to develop future technologies and performances that enhance ground combat capabilities in the areas of mobility, hybrid operation, power generation and energy storage, such as well as security systems, situational awareness, robotics, C4I solutions, weapon systems and modern life cycle support solutions.

The Finnish Company Patria is an international provider of defence, security and aviation life cycle support services, pilot training and technology solutions. Patria provides its aerospace and military customers with equipment availability, continuous performance development as well as selected intelligence, surveillance and management system products and services. Patria has several locations including Finland, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Estonia and Spain. Patria employs 3,000 professionals. Patria is owned by the State of Finland (50.1%) and Norwegian Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS (49.9%). Patria owns 50% of Norwegian Nammo, and together these three companies form a leading Nordic defence partnership.

Patria has also developed one of the most modern and popular 8x8 wheeled armoured vehicles, the AMV (Armored Modular Vehicle). In 1996, Patria Vehicles began to develop different concept vehicles and found the 8×8 one to be most suitable as a replacement for the 6×6 Sisu Pasi. For several years, Patria has continued the development of her AMV to offer new protection, firepower and mobility according to the users experiences as well as to respond to the new threats of the modern battlefield. In 2013 Patria launched a new upgraded version of its AMV. under the name of AMV XP with more payload, mobility performances and additional protection. 

The Patria AMV is now in service with many countries all over the world, including Croatia, Finland, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates.