Since 2022, Sweden has been part of the multinational CAVS program, which aims to develop and procure 6x6 armored vehicles together with Finland, Latvia, and Germany. A pre-series of 20 vehicles was delivered to the Armed Forces in 2023. In March 2024, FMV signed an agreement for an additional 321 vehicles, valued at 5.3 billion kronor. The vehicles will be adapted for Swedish needs, including command support systems.
The funding is part of five selected projects that together receive 300 million euros. The program aims to address urgent defense needs that have become particularly evident after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Margrethe Vestager, Vice President of the European Commission, describes the initiative as an important step towards improving interoperability and defense capabilities within the EU.
– This is the first time the EU budget is used to support member states' joint procurement of defense products. We are investing 300 million euros in five projects that address critical and urgent capacity needs. It strengthens our industrial capacities and makes Europe better prepared to meet defense threats, says Vestager in a press release from the European Commission.
The CAVS program is led by Finland and is based on Patria's 6x6 platform. Jussi Järvinen, Vice President of Patria Finland Division, describes the project's intentions:
– The program has advanced rapidly thanks to excellent cooperation between participating countries and Patria. The funding from EDIRPA will further promote the development of the 6x6 platform and strengthen defense cooperation in Europe, says Järvinen in a press release from Patria.
EDIRPA is a short-term funding program running until 2025 and aims to promote joint procurement of defense products. Within the CAVS program, national industrial capacities are also used extensively to strengthen supply security for the participating countries.