Kongsberg to Provide 300+ PROTECTOR Stations for Patria 6x6 Common Armored Vehicle Systems

Patria has entered into an agreement with Kongsberg to provide PROTECTOR remote weapon stations for over 300 Patria 6x6 vehicles as part of the Common Armored Vehicle System (CAVS) program in Sweden and Finland.

The contract model is very unique as supplies to multiple customers are contracted under same contract between Patria and Kongsberg. Patria is the prime contractor and integrator of the vehicles and Kongsberg is the selected supplier for the PROTECTOR RS4 remote weapon stations.

The deliveries are starting from 2025 and last into the 2030s.

Patria 6x6 vehicle was chosen as the platform for the CAVS collaboration programme between several European countries in 2021.

CAVS related Patria 6x6 deliveries are ongoing to Latvia, Finland and Sweden, and vehicles are in operational use. Germany joined the programme in April 2023.

Established in 2019 by Finland and Latvia, the CAVS program aimed to introduce a jointly developed armored vehicle system. After evaluating potential candidates, the Patria 6×6 was selected for its suitability. Based on Patria’s earlier 8×8 AMV and 6×6 XA-series vehicles, the CAVS Patria system retains a similar chassis and powertrain, adapted to meet specific requirements of both countries.

The CAVS vehicle has a gross vehicle weight of 24,000 kg and is powered by a Scania DC 09 diesel engine producing 294 kW (394 hp). It features independent coil spring or hydro-pneumatic suspension, enabling a road speed of 100 km/h (60 mph). The vehicle accommodates a crew of two and up to ten passengers comfortably and can swim at 8 km/h (5 mph) using twin shrouded propellers. Its base protection level is STANAG Level 2, upgradable to Level 4. Primarily intended for troop transport, it offers various mission role variants, including configurations with auto-cannon remote weapon stations and the NEMO 120mm turret mortar.

Latvia has contracted over two hundred CAVS systems, with initial manufacturing in Finland before transitioning to Latvia in 2023. The first vehicles were delivered in 2021. Finland intends to procure 160 vehicles starting in 2023, with three pre-series systems for testing in 2022. Sweden joined the program in April 2023, ordering twenty vehicles initially designated as the Pansarterrängbil 300 for delivery by the end of summer, with the first batch arriving in May. Sweden plans to acquire an additional four hundred vehicles, with deliveries starting at the end of 2024.