Finland signs an agreement with Patria to order pres-series of new 6x6 armored vehicles.

According to information released on January 28, 2022, The Finnish Defence Forces has signed the agreement with Patria to acquire Patria 6x6 vehicles as a pre-series related to the joint 6x6 vehicle program between Latvia, Finland, Estonia and Patria. The pre-series vehicles will be in test use of the Finnish Defence Forces before the final serial order indicated by the Letter of Intent signed at the end of August 2021.
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The new Patria 6x6 armoured vehicle. (Picture source Patria)

“With pre-series testing, the customer can get acquainted with the vehicle, its usage and operating features comprehensively beforehand, thus ensuring the fluent and effective establishment of operational readiness when the serial order deliveries begin. All three vehicles will be delivered to the customer in summer 2022”, says Jussi Järvinen, Executive Vice President, Finland Division of Patria.

The joint programme is progressing as planned. In Latvia, the first vehicles are already in use and serial production is underway. Finland has made the decision about the pre-series vehicles, and Sweden is preparing to join the programme. The joint 6x6 programme has arisen interest and is open to other countries with the mutual consent of the participating countries. 

Patria has developed a new 6x6 armoured vehicle as a successor for the Patria XA-series 6×6 Pasi armoured personnel carrier. The new vehicle will be developed in collaboration with Finland, Latvia and Estonia. In August 2021, Patria signed a contract with Latvia for the supply of more than 200 6×6 armoured personnel carriers under the joint development program. The company has also signed a letter. of intent with Finland for a potential serial order of 6×6 vehicles.

The new Patria 6x6 armoured has been designed using components of the Patria 8x8 armoured which is in service with many countries all over the world. The vehicle keeps the layout of the PASI 6x6 armoured vehicle with driver and commander at the front and troops compartment at the rear. It has a modular armour providing ballistic protection STANAG level 2 that can be upgraded to Level 4. As APC (Armored Personnel Carrier), the Patria 6x6 vehicle has a crew of three and can accommodate up to 10 soldiers. 

The Patria 6x6 is motorized with a a five-cylinder, inline, turbocharged diesel engine developing a power output of 294kW. The vehicle can run at a maximum road speed of 100 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 700 km.