Patria and Japan Steel Works Ltd seal deal for Patria AMV XP armored vehicle production in Japan.

On August 31, 2023, Finland's state-owned Patria Group and Japan Steel Works Ltd. (JSW) announced a licensing agreement for the local production of Patria AMV XP 8x8 armored vehicles in Japan. This development is part of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's Wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier (WAPC) program and represents a significant milestone in modernizing Japan's military capabilities.
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Patria AMV XP 8x8 armored vehicle (Picture source: Patria)

In December 2022, the Patria AMV XP 8x8 was selected to replace the existing Type-96 8x8 Armored Personnel Carriers currently in service with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. Although the exact number of vehicles to be produced and the financial terms of the agreement remain undisclosed, the choice of Patria's vehicle highlights its quality and suitability for contemporary warfare.

The AMV XP is an upgraded version of the original Patria AMV, which was first unveiled in 2013 at the DSEI international defense exhibition in the United Kingdom. In August 2022, Slovakia and Finland, in collaboration with Patria, signed a government-to-government agreement for the acquisition of 76 Patria 8x8 AMV XP Armored Modular Vehicles for the Slovak Republic's armed forces, further demonstrating the vehicle's growing appeal.

The updated Patria model offers enhanced payload, mobility, and protection capabilities. Its design retains the layout of the original version, featuring a power pack at the front, the driver's seat at the front left, a weapon station in the middle of the top hull, and a troop compartment at the rear. The vehicle accommodates a crew of two and can carry up to 10 infantrymen. It can also be equipped with various turret types, including remotely operated weapon stations, and can be armed with a 120mm cannon, medium-caliber weapon systems, the Patria Nemo mortar turret, as well as anti-tank or anti-aircraft missile systems.

Janne Räkköläinen, Senior Vice President of Market Area World at Patria, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership with JSW, stating, "Patria is fully committed to fulfilling the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s WAPC program as agreed upon, and we are extremely pleased to have JSW as our manufacturing partner in Japan." Both companies have over a century of experience in producing high-quality products, making this collaboration a formidable alliance in the defense manufacturing sector.

The agreement paves the way for local production of the armored vehicles in Japan, with Patria expressing confidence that JSW will meet both the company's and global manufacturing standards, although specific details were not provided in the press release.