The United Kingdom and Norway have officially joined the multinational Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) programme by signing the Technical Arrangement, becoming the sixth and seventh members alongside Finland, Latvia, Sweden, Germany and Denmark. The two countries will now advance to the next stages of the programme to address their requirements for protected mobility.
Patria President and CEO Esa Rautalinko said the addition of the UK and Norway reflects the growing importance of multinational cooperation in strengthening European security, particularly in areas of interoperability, interchangeability and supply resilience among allied nations.
Jussi Järvinen, Patria’s Executive Vice President for Protected Mobility, stated that the programme provides a modern 6x6 armoured vehicle designed for today’s operational needs while enabling shared defence capabilities and faster delivery timelines. He added that involving local industries of member states supports maintenance security and independent sustainment in all conditions.
Patria leads the programme as the prime contractor, with over four decades of experience in protected troop transport and system integration. Most vehicle production takes place through local industries of participating nations. Nearly 1,000 Patria 6x6 vehicles have been ordered under the programme, with more than 250 already delivered.
The CAVS initiative began in 2019 as a cooperation between Finland and Latvia to jointly develop a new armoured vehicle system. The Patria 6x6 was chosen as the platform. The programme has since expanded to include seven countries and remains open to new members with similar requirements, subject to the approval of existing participants.
The effort aims to provide a cost-effective armoured vehicle through joint procurement, while improving interoperability within NATO and enhancing European defence resilience. Its modular design allows adaptation for various roles, including troop transport, logistics, reconnaissance, medical evacuation and combat operations. The programme has also received support from the European Defense Industry Reinforcement Instrument through Joint Procurement (EDIRPA).