Ukraine has ordered 100 armoured vehicles designed by the Finnish defence contractor Patria, to be delivered by Poland. The order is financed with funds given to Poland by the EU and the US, earmarked to support Ukraine. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki made the announcement on Twitter. Last autumn, defence sources reported that Finnish-made Patria Pasi armoured personnel carriers were in use by the Ukrainian Army. The latest package included three German-made Leopard 2 mine clearing tanks as part of an EU-wide effort to help Ukraine defend itself against the Russian invasion. The Finnish government has not officially confirmed the delivery of armoured vehicles to Ukraine but has so far sent 13 packages of military aid to Ukraine.
The KTO Rosomak (Kolowy Transporter Opancerzony Rosomak) (pol. wheeled armored personnel carrier Wolverine) is an 8×8 multi-role military vehicle produced by Rosomak S.A. (formerly Wojskowe Zaklady Mechaniczne) in Siemianowice Slaskie (Upper Silesia), a Polish Armaments Group company. The vehicle is a licensed variant of the Finnish Patria AMV. The name “Rosomak” (Polish for “Wolverine”) was chosen following a contest organized by the Nowa Technika Wojskowa magazine. The Rosomak replaced the obsolete OT-64 SKOT APCs and partially the BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle currently in service with the Polish Land Forces. In December 2002, the Polish Ministry of National Defense signed a contract to buy 690 Patria AMV vehicles, to be manufactured in Poland.
The Patria AMV (Armored Modular Vehicle) is an 8×8 multi-role military vehicle produced by the Finnish defence industry company Patria. The main feature of the AMV is its modular design, which allows the incorporation of different turrets, weapons, sensors, or communications systems on the same carriage. The vehicle has a very good level of mine protection and can withstand explosions of up to 10 kilograms (22 lb) TNT. The AMV has protection levels up to 30 mm APFSDS frontal arc. Another important feature is the very good mobility (combining speed, agility, and crew comfort) in rough terrain, enabled by the sophisticated but rugged hydropneumatic suspension adjusting each wheel individually.
The Patria Pasi (earlier known as the Sisu Pasi) is a Finnish-made six-wheeled armoured personnel carrier (APC) originally designed for Finnish Defence Forces. The later variants (such as the XA-202 and XA-203) were then manufactured by Patria until 2003, when the then new Patria AMV entered serial production. Patria Plc is a Finnish provider of defence, security and aviation life-cycle support services. Patria is owned 50.1% by the Finnish government and 49.9% by Norwegian defense group Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace AS. Ensuring and developing security of supply in Finland continues to be in the core of Patria’s mission. At the heart of the new strategy is profitable growth sought in international markets. In line with its strategy, Patria is aiming for growth that will see the Group’s turnover rise to around €900 million by 2025.
