At a ceremony in Kvarn on 26 October, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) handed over a pre-series of 20 new armoured personnel carriers for troop transport, Patgb300A, to the Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten). The pre-series is a preparation for an upcoming series acquisition where approximately 350 vehicles are to be delivered between 2024 and 2033, according to press releases from FMV and Patria.

Mats Warstedt, Senior Vice President for Market Area Nordics at Patria, commented on the collaboration and the rapid delivery in the company's press release:

– We are pleased to see the vehicles on Swedish soil. Patria was able to fulfil the order extremely quickly, demonstrating the advantage of cross-border cooperation, which is at the core of the joint CAVS 6x6 programme. The armoured personnel carrier 300, manufactured in Finland with significant contributions from Swedish industry, is a prime example of the benefits of technical collaboration between countries.

FMV signed a contract with Patria in April this year for the delivery of 20 vehicles and system materiel. The first vehicle was delivered in June, and the last is expected to reach the Swedish Armed Forces in early November. Thanks to the Finnish Defence Forces, which allocated their slots in Patria's production to Sweden, this could happen so quickly.

– Fundamentally, it is also about very close cooperation, both internally within FMV and with the Swedish Armed Forces and Patria. Good relations and transparency regarding challenges have probably been a key, says Håkan Larsson, project manager at FMV, to the agency.