The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has awarded a contract worth approximately EUR 28 million (SEK 300 million) to Patria for the upgrade of Patria XA 202/203 (Pansarterrängbil 202/203 or Patgb 202/203) wheeled armored vehicles. In total 168 vehicles will be refurbished at the Patria facilities in Hämeenlinna, Finland. The vehicles were delivered to the Swedish Armed Forces at the beginning of the 2000s. Patria will make a mid-life upgrade (MLU) to the entire fleet of armored six-wheeled personnel carrier vehicles operated by the Swedish Armed Forces. The work will start immediately with the first deliveries already this year and with the entire fleet upgraded by the end of 2025. The upgrades include the engine, chassis, electrical and hydraulic enhancements and will provide decades of added service life for the vehicles.
“We are proud that the FMV is showing confidence in Patria’s offering of advanced mid-life upgrades to the Swedish Armed Forces’ fleet of XA vehicles. The contract is well in line with Patria’s ambition to be a strategic partner to the Armed Forces and FMV throughout the entire life cycle of delivered products”, says Mats Warstedt, Head of Market Area Nordics at Patria.
The Patria Pasi (earlier known as the Sisu Pasi) is a Finnish-made six-wheeled armored personnel carrier (APC) originally designed for Finnish Defence Forces. The first version was produced in 1983 and serial production began in 1984. It was designed to operate with ease of use, simple structure, and low-cost maintenance. The basic appearance and configuration of Patria Pasi are similar to most wheeled APCs. The XA-180 and XA-185 versions are fully amphibious while the Sisu XA 202/203 (Patgb 202/203) is not. Swedish Army had ~200 vehicles in total. Patgb 202 is a XA-202S with a command and control equipment. Patgb 203A is a XA-203 equipped with a 20 mm gun, in 7 configurations like ambulance (unarmed), AT-missile, CBRN-detection, field repairs, and so forth. And Patgb 203B is a XA-203 equipped with the turret with the weapon-station Protector Nordic.
Patria is an international provider of defense, 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’s mission is to give its customers confidence in all conditions, and the vision is to be the #1 partner for critical operations on land, sea, and air. 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 Nammo, and together these three companies form a leading Nordic defense partnership.
