Patria and Japan Steel Works (JSW) signed a licence agreement on 31 August 2023 for the manufacturing of Patria AMV XP 8×8 vehicles in Japan.
The agreement enables local production in accordance with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s (JGSDF’s) Wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier (WAPC) programme. In December 2022 the Patria AMV XP 8×8 vehicle was selected by the programme to replace the JGSDF’s current fleet of Type 96 8×8 armoured personnel carriers (APCs).
Neither the number of new vehicles nor the value of the agreement have been disclosed at this stage.
“Patria is fully committed delivering the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s WAPC programme as agreed and we are extremely satisfied to have JSW as our manufacturing partner in Japan,” Janne Räkköläinen, Patria’s Senior Vice President of Market Area World, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “Both companies have over a hundred years of experience in providing top-of-the-line quality products for customers with the most demanding needs. JSW is a top-quality manufacturer locally and Patria foresees that JSW is an excellent manufacturing partner and will execute projects fully up to Patria and global standards. Together we create a strong team to manufacture and deliver the latest-generation armoured vehicles in Japan for years to come.”
The Patria AMV XP 8×8 is a modular armoured vehicle that is available in two different formats. The basic model can used for a number of variants – such as APC, infantry fighting vehicle, command vehicle, ambulance, reconnaissance vehicle, anti-tank guided missile vehicle, armoured repair and recovery vehicle, fire-support vehicle with mobile cannons and 120 mm Patria Nemo mortar carrier – while a high-roof model provides extra height in the rear compartment for variants such as command vehicle, ambulance or workshop vehicle.
Peter Felstead
