The Finnish-Latvian joint 6×6 vehicle programme proceeds on schedule as Patria delivered the first Patria 6×6 armoured wheeled vehicles to Latvian National Armed Forces. This first vehicle handover of the whole joint programme is a remarkable milestone for all participants. A week before the handover of the vehicles, a user training of the Patria 6×6 vehicle was completed in Hämeenlinna at Patria’s facilities, when soldiers of the Latvian National Armed Forces participated in a two-week user, instructor, and maintenance training course. The focus of the training was to learn how the vehicle works and how to use it – step by step.
After the training period, the Latvian soldiers now have a good understanding about the usage and maintenance requirements of the vehicle. They are also ready to receive the first vehicles in Latvia on behalf of Patria, and ready to start operating them safely. In early 2020, Finland and Latvia agreed on a joint development programme to improve the mobility of the ground forces. The aim of the development project has been to develop a new armoured vehicle system based on 6×6 armoured vehicles manufactured by Patria. In late August 2021, Finland, Latvia, and Patria signed a Frame Agreement for production phase management. Latvia and Patria signed a supply contract comprising over 200 pieces 6×6 armoured personnel carriers developed under the joint development programme, also including their support and training systems.
“With high-quality cooperation between Latvian companies, our own professionals, and the future users of the vehicles, we have achieved this important milestone together. Staying on schedule and taking a project this size forward so effectively is not always a matter of course, and we do not take this milestone for granted. Hard work has been done on this and will continue to be done. We all get to be proud of ourselves and continue this exceptional joint programme going forward. In addition, I believe that such concrete progress will build even more confidence towards this joint programme particularly outside the programme and hence increase interest in other countries as well.”, says Jussi Järvinen, President of Patria’s Land business unit.
Patria 6×6 armoured wheeled vehicle is a new all-wheel drive combat vehicle developed by Finnish defence company Patria Land Systems. The modular and robust vehicle provides tactical troop transportation capability, advanced protection and extreme mobility. It can be used for multiple missions, including peacekeeping. It is a successor to the Patria XA-series 6×6 Pasi armoured personnel carrier, which was introduced in the 1980s. The Patria 6×6 combat vehicle was launched at the Eurosatory 2018 international defence and security exhibition held in June 2018. The Patria 6×6 fitted with the Nemo mortar system was displayed at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition held in London in October 2019. Finland and Latvia partnered to jointly work on the development of a common armoured wheeled vehicle system. Estonia joined the programme in April 2020.
