Germany has signed contracts exceeding €2 billion ($2.3 billion) with Finnish defense manufacturer Patria to acquire 876 Common Armored Vehicle Systems (CAVS).
The procurement includes four different variants of the platform, among them versions fitted with Patria’s NEMO mortar turret and Kongsberg’s Protector RS4 remote weapon station. Deliveries to the German armed forces are scheduled to begin in 2026.
The agreement also confirms the transfer of key technologies to German defense companies FFG, JWT, and KNDS, building on an industrial cooperation deal signed in 2024 to support domestic CAVS production. Vehicles produced under this local manufacturing arrangement are expected to enter service from 2027.
Launched in 2020 by the Finnish Ministry of Defence, the CAVS program aims to provide Finland and partner nations with a standardized next-generation armored vehicle fleet. The selected platform, the Patria 6×6 armored personnel carrier, is designed for a service life of up to 30 years.
Built to NATO standards, the CAVS measures 8 meters in length, offers a payload capacity of 9 tons, and can carry up to 10 personnel. Powered by a 394-horsepower Scania diesel engine, the vehicle has a top speed of 100 km/h and an operational range of up to 700 km. Patria is currently managing nearly 2,000 CAVS orders, with more than 250 vehicles already delivered. The program now includes seven participating nations, with Germany joining as the fourth partner and the UK and Norway as the latest entrants.
