The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has ordered 1,000 new Yamaha XT 250 Serow motorcycles for the Swedish Armed Forces, replacing the 40-year-old Husqvarna 258 following a procurement process lasting two and a half years. Deliveries to the Swedish Armed Forces and the Home Guard will commence during the summer and are expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2027.
In connection with the first delivery, an instructor training was conducted for trainers from the Swedish Armed Forces and the Home Guard.
Photo: FMV
The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has ordered 1,000 new dispatch motorcycles for the Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten). The model is the Yamaha XT 250 Serow, which will be designated MC 251 within the Swedish Armed Forces. It replaces the Husqvarna 258 (MC 258), which has been in service for approximately 40 years, according to a press release from FMV.
According to FMV, work on finding a replacement has been ongoing for just over two and a half years. Following a market analysis, several models were tested under both winter and summer conditions. A requirements specification was subsequently developed together with the Swedish Armed Forces ahead of a competitive procurement process.
FMV states that the contract was awarded to Yamaha following an evaluation of submitted tenders, as the supplier met all requirements at the lowest price. The motorcycle is a four-stroke model with an air-cooled engine.
– It meets all requirements, is easy to ride and reliable, and spare parts are readily available, says project manager Jörgen Ericsson at FMV.
Winter equipment is included with the motorcycles, comprising skis, a winter brake, studded tyres, and shielded lighting.
The first 30 units were delivered in early April to the Swedish Armed Forces' motorcycle school in Skövde (western Sweden). In connection with this, an instructor training course was conducted for instructors from the Swedish Armed Forces and the Swedish Home Guard (Hemvärnet). The training covers maintenance, fault-finding, repair, and off-road riding.
– This is going to be an excellent motorcycle for the purpose it was developed for, says Fredrik Holmgren at Göta Trängregemente (the Göta Transport Regiment), which is responsible for training at the motorcycle school.
The MC 251 will be delivered to the Swedish Armed Forces and the Swedish Home Guard as a whole, with deliveries commencing in summer. Deliveries will then continue through to the first quarter of 2027, according to the press release.
NDS has previously reported on the seven-year framework agreement signed between FMV and Yamaha. The framework agreement was reported to cover the delivery of up to 2,500 winter-equipped motorcycles, with 1,000 motorcycles to be delivered during spring 2026.
Written by
Johan Martelius
FAQ
Questions and answers generated automatically from the article content.
The Yamaha XT 250 Serow is a four-stroke model with an air-cooled engine, designated MC 251 in the Swedish Armed Forces. The contract was awarded to Yamaha following competitive procurement because the supplier met all requirements at the lowest price. The model replaces the Husqvarna 258 (MC 258), which has been in use for approximately 40 years. Last fact-checked: 28 April 2026.
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