Finland, Norway, and Latvia have signed a Statement of Intent on the continued development and cooperation around the Patria TrackX tracked armoured vehicle. The signing took place in connection with the NATO Summit in Ankara and aims to create conditions for joint procurement, continued product development, and information sharing between the participating countries.
According to a press release from the Finnish Ministry of Defence, the cooperation is to be developed along the same model as the multinational CAVS programme centred on the Patria 6x6, with common requirements, coordinated procurement, and shared life-cycle support. The project is led by Finland and is also part of the Eastern Flank Watch (EFW) initiative.
"Multinational cooperation is the most effective way to build the capabilities we need to guarantee Europe's security and defence capacity. The CAVS vehicle programme has been a success story for Finland's defence administration and defence industry, and I am pleased that trust is being placed in our expertise also when it comes to developing this vehicle designed for demanding conditions," says Finnish Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen in the press release.
Patria states that the Statement of Intent will enable the countries to share experiences from development work and field trials, as well as explore the possibilities for joint series procurement from 2027 onwards.
"Europe and its allies need a new level of mobility that no single country can create on its own. Multinational cooperation and joint procurement are the best way to translate shared needs into operational capability and interoperability," says Patria Chief Executive Officer Panu Routila in the company's press release.
Patria describes the TrackX as a new generation of tracked armoured vehicle developed within the EU-funded FAMOUS programme (Future Highly Mobile Augmented Armoured Systems). The vehicle is designed for demanding terrain and Arctic conditions, and according to the company the aim is to commence series production during 2027 to 2028.
As Nordic Defence Sector previously reported, Sweden and Finland signed a separate agreement in June on a joint pre-series evaluation of the Patria TrackX. According to Patria, the Swedish-Finnish cooperation is continuing in parallel with the new initiative and will support the technical collaboration as well as prepare the TrackX for future procurement processes.
Patria emphasises that the new Statement of Intent builds on the experiences gained from the CAVS programme, in which several European countries have coordinated requirements, procurement, and life-cycle support for Patria 6x6 vehicles.