Kongsberg's Weapon Station for New Armoured Terrain Vehicles

Patria has signed an agreement with Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace for the delivery of PROTECTOR weapon stations to over 300 of Sweden's and Finland's Patria armoured vehicles as part of the joint programme (CAVS). Deliveries will begin in 2025 and continue into the 2030s.

– This agreement provides a unique opportunity to deliver weapon systems to meet the needs of multiple countries under a single contract and is yet another milestone for the international CAVS programme. The efficiency and uniformity of the system among partner countries are unparalleled and were already utilised in collaboration during the development phase, says Patria's CEO Esa Rautalinko in the company's press release.

The contract enables deliveries to multiple customers through a single agreement between Patria and Kongsberg. Patria is the main contractor while Kongsberg is the chosen supplier for PROTECTOR RS4 weapon stations. Kongsberg has so far delivered over 20,000 PROTECTOR weapon stations to 28 countries.

– We at Kongsberg are pleased to work closely with Patria to enhance defence capabilities in Sweden and Finland. The choice of common military equipment among the Nordic countries ensures military interoperability and increased logistical efficiency. It also strengthens industrial cooperation to support NATO's vision of equipment interchangeability and supply chain security, says Eirik Lie, CEO of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, in the company's press release.

The CAVS programme is a collaboration between several European countries, with the Patria 6x6 selected as the vehicle. Earlier in March, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) signed an agreement with Patria to deliver 321 armoured vehicles to the Swedish Armed Forces. The vehicles will be included in motorised units, air defence, and artillery units.