Germany has signed the research and development (R&D) agreement for the multinational Common Armoured Vehicles System (CAVS) programme. The signature was announced by the Finnish Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Finnish CAVS manufacturer Patria on 2 May 2024. With Germany’s accession into the programme in 2023, the CAVS project became a four-nation programme with founding members Finland and Latvia as well as Sweden, which joined later.

By joining, Germany gains access to the results of the product development packages and can participate in the further development of the vehicle system, according to the Finnish MoD. Patria is focusing on industrial co-operation with Germany, including the production of CAVS vehicles in Germany in co-operation with German partners.

“The CAVS programme enables the participating countries to benefit from joint product development, procurement and life cycle management. The programme is a good example of the increased co-operation within European defence and the defence industry called for by the EU,” stated Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen.

According to the Finnish MoD, the aim of the CAVS programme, which was launched in co-operation between Finland and Latvia in 2020, is to develop a 6×6 armoured vehicle system for the needs of the participating countries. The delivery of the vehicles to Finland, Sweden and Latvia, which have already ordered a total of 700 armoured vehicles from Patria, is currently underway. With the latest order, Finland has ordered a heavy armoured personnel carrier (APC) for international crisis management.

The CAVS programme is open to European countries with similar equipment requirements and is intended to strengthen European defence and co-operation with NATO, the Finnish MoD added. The participation of Germany and Sweden in this programme enables co-operation between the Nordic and Baltic countries, joint exercises and crisis management missions, simplifies logistics and improves security of supply.

“We value the strength that Germany will bring to this programme, both as a respected defence nation and through its great industrial versatility. Patria and its partners are ready to meet Germany’s needs under the programme,” said Hugo Vanbockryck, Head of Market Area Europe at Patria.

Over the long term Germany plans to replace its existing Fuchs fleet with armoured 6×6 vehicles from Patria. Although a final decision has not yet been made public, Patria has begun to prepare the ground for the production of CAVS vehicles in Germany. Patria has founded an industrial group for CAVS production and subsequent operational support and presented it in February (ESuT reported: https://esut.de/2024/02/meldungen/47579/patria-formiert-industriegruppe-fuer-die-produktion-im-cavs-programm/). The group includes FFG Flensburger Fahrzeugbaugesellschaft and Defence Service Logistics (DSL), a company owned by KNDS Germany’s Krauss-Maffei Wegmann subsidiary, which will offer Germany the development, production and maintenance of variants of Patria’s 6×6 APC. As the main contractor in the consortium, Patria will be responsible for the design and development of the system. DSL will be based in Freisen and FFG will be responsible for local engineering, production and life cycle support in Germany at its subsidiaries in Flensburg (FFG) and Kirchen (Jungenthal Wehrtechnik, JWT). In addition to the more detailed preparations for the localisation of production, which are now beginning, the team will also involve other German companies in the programme.

In signing the R&D agreement for the multinational Common Armoured Vehicles System (CAVS) programme, Germany gains access to the results of the CAVS product development packages. (Photo: Patria)