In Latvia, the first batch of Patria 6x6 armored personnel carriers for Ukraine is already being assembled, with the transfer announced on September 11, 2024, during the visit of Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina to Kyiv. This information was shared by the Ukrainian Ambassador to Latvia, Anatoliy Kutsyvol, who visited the factory in the city of Valmiera.
It should be noted that the number of Patria 6x6 units, from the Finnish company of the same name, for Ukraine, which are included in a total aid package worth 40 million euros along with other weaponry, has not been disclosed, nor have the timelines for their transfer.
Meanwhile, for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, acquiring additional armored vehicles in the form of Patria 6x6 makes more sense than simply reinforcing with more APCs. This is because the Finnish APC currently has significant potential to become a pan-European vehicle. This is not only due to the ongoing Common Armoured Vehicle System program under the European Union's joint arms procurement initiative (EDIRPA) for this vehicle.
More importantly, the Patria 6x6 is already in service with Finland, Sweden, and Latvia, is preparing to finalize a large contract with Germany to replace the Fuchs, and is also looking to enter the UK market with significant ambitions. Additionally, with the introduction of the equally interesting Patria AMV on an 8x8 chassis, countries such as Poland, Croatia, and Slovenia are also involved.
This means that the opportunity to test the Patria 6x6 in real combat is crucial for forming an independent assessment and comparison with other models. The Armed Forces of Ukraine will also require such vehicles in appropriate quantities, especially since discussions about the possibility of producing Patria armored vehicles in Ukraine began as early as 2023.
А Patria is known for its significant localization, particularly
in Latvia, where a new enterprise was established for the production of APCs. The establishment of this facility from scratch took three years, considering the lack of experience in the Latvian defense industry in producing armored vehicles. The planned production rate is up to 30 units per year. In Germany and the UK, a strategy of collaboration with local defense companies - Babcock
and DSL
with FFG, respectively, has been chosen.
Regarding the specifications of the Patria 6x6, it is an amphibious APC with a maximum weight of up to 24 tons, of which up to 8.5 tons is combat payload. The baseline protection is ballistic STANAG level 2, with the option to upgrade to level 4 (protection against calibers of 7.62 - 14.5 mm and blasts of 6 - 10 kg of explosives, respectively). It features an independent suspension with springs and hydraulic shock absorbers, and the first and second axles are steerable. The engine is a 400-horsepower diesel. The troop compartment can accommodate 10 personnel, with a crew of 2.
Thus, in terms of its characteristics, the Patria 6x6 is not a uniquely advanced development. However, it has a significant advantage - price. It costs, based on contracts for Latvia from 2021 and 2024, as well as last year's order from Sweden, in the range of 1-1.2 million euros per unit. For comparison, this is the price of 4x4 wheeled armored vehicles such as the French Serval and the Australian Bushmaster PMV.