The military support package to Ukraine involved the purchase of transport vehicles to convert them into ambulances, of which "dozens" will be BAE Systems Hägglunds Bandvagn 206. The same company has previously converted the American troop transport vehicle M113, as part of a trilateral initiative from the Benelux countries.
– The Bv-206 attracted attention from the Ukrainians and Belgians, as it is a vehicle already used in Ukraine and known for its very high mobility in complicated and uneven terrain. It is therefore fully compatible with the mission to evacuate the wounded, says a spokesperson from John Cockerill Defense to L'Echo.
Older tracked vehicles from Hägglunds continue to serve a function in defense contexts. In December, the Swedish FMV entered into an agreement with the consortium Nordic Terrain Solutions (NTS) for the renovation and modification (REMO) of existing Bandvagn 206 and 208 within the Armed Forces.
The agreement involved a life extension through the replacement of the engine and transmission for 800 tracked vehicles, with the possibility of an additional up to 250 units, and also includes the introduction of tools and spare parts, training of drivers and technicians, as well as updating existing documentation.