foto: Patria, Public domain/Patria AMV XP
The Patria AMV XP armoured vehicle, developed by Finnish company Patria Oyj, was first introduced in 2013. It is an upgraded version of the AMV with increased ballistic and mine protection and increased payload weight up to 15 tonnes. Its tactical and technical parameters make it a clear favourite for a possible new Czech acquisition.
The Patria AMV XP 8x8 wheeled armoured vehicle is characterised by its robust modular construction. The aim of the Finnish designers was to offer an ideal platform for various tasks such as infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), armoured personnel carrier, command vehicle, medical vehicle, recovery vehicle and fire support vehicle with 120 mm NEMO mortar system. The original Patria AMV is widespread in European armies. Apart from the Finnish army, Sweden, Croatia, Slovenia and the biggest user so far, the Polish army, have also included them in their armament – in Poland the vehicles are produced under license as KTO Rosomak. And the vehicles ordered by Ukraine in 2023 (up to 200 in total) are also being produced in Poland.
Patria AMV: success stories around the world
Patria AMV XP was successful in the 2022 tender in Slovakia under the BOV 8x8 project, where 64 of the 72 vehicles ordered are also being produced. Japan will also be a very important user, having signed a contract for the delivery of Patria AMV XP vehicles in December 2022, with an initial delivery of 82 units and an option to license production of more than seven hundred additional vehicles directly in Japan to complement and replace the indigenous Type 96 armoured personnel carriers. And Slovenia, whose army operates 30 older armoured vehicles designated SKOV Svarun 8x8 ordered in 2006, also confirmed its interest in mid-February.
On 13 February, Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen and his Slovenian counterpart Borut Sajovic signed a memorandum of understanding between Slovenia and Finland to support the purchase of 8×8 wheeled armoured vehicles. According to the Finnish Ministry of Defence, the two countries express their joint willingness to cooperate on the basis of a non-binding letter of intent concerning 8×8 AMV XP vehicles from Patria. „Based on the recent vehicle deals that have already been concluded, it is evident that the MoD's export promotion measures are effective,“ Häkkänen said in a statement.
Main advantages: modularity and prospect of further development
The Patria AMV XP has a modular design with stealth technology and low radar and heat signature. The vehicle is 8.1 m long, 2.8 m wide and 2.4 m high. The combat weight of the vehicle is 32 tonnes with a payload of 15 tonnes. It is equipped with a digital vehicle data and control system and enables network interoperability between vehicles. The AMV XP can be fitted with a very wide variety of weapons up to 120 mm calibre and of course virtually any anti-tank or anti-aircraft missile system.
At last year's Eurosatory in Paris, the vehicle was presented with the Cockerill 3000 series battle turret. This is based on an innovative modular concept and represents a unique platform for the integration of weapons of different calibers and their corresponding technological modules: automatic cannons of 25 mm, 30 mm, 30/40 mm, 35 mm and 50 mm calibre, but also 90 and 105 mm calibre guns, capable of firing anti-tank guided missiles.
Of course, they are also resistant to the effects of improvised explosive devices, mines and weapons of mass destruction. It offers ballistic armour protection up to level K5+ and mine protection of STANAG 4a/4b or higher. Combined with active protection systems, it is clearly one of the most robust vehicles on the market today, which also has considerable potential for further development.
Lightweight vehicles with weaker engines are going out of fashion
In terms of the future Czech acquisition of new 8x8 armoured vehicles to replace the existing Pandur II 8x8 CZ, if such an intention is confirmed by the conclusions of the feasibility study, one of the key requirements will undoubtedly be the potential for further development and the prospect of integrating advanced weapon, protection and communication systems, electronic warfare, etc. The aforementioned total weight of 32 tonnes with a 15 tonne payload makes the Patria AMV XP more than competitive in this respect. With a 450 kW engine, it has a power-to-weight ratio of 14 kW/tonne.
In terms of tactical and technical parameters, its main rival is the German Boxer, which in the A3 version currently has a substantially higher weight limit of 41 tonnes, but at the same time also has a significantly heavier chassis platform (25.2 tonnes) and a possible payload very similar to the Patria. This version of the Boxer is powered by a 600 kW engine, and the power-to-weight ratio is therefore 14.6 kW.
The Piranha 5, which weighs 18.5 tonnes empty and has a payload of 14.5 tonnes, is powered by a 430 kW engine as standard and has a maximum weight ratio of 13 kW/tonne – the Danes and Spanish have replaced this with a 480 kW engine and their vehicles achieve 14.5 kW/tonne. Smaller and lighter are the Strykers, which weigh 16.4 tonnes empty and up to 28.5 tonnes maximum (payload of 12.1 tonnes), but with a 260 kW engine achieve a power-to-weight ratio of only 9.1 kW/t. The Pandur II 8x8 CZ weighs 13.5 tonnes empty, has a combat weight of up to 22 tonnes (payload 8.5 tonnes) and with a 335 kW engine has a power-to-weight ratio of 15.2 kW/t.
Taking a cursory look at the above figures, and even if we readily admit that they may be slightly different in detail in different configurations, it is obvious why the Czech Army has questioned the prospect of upgrading the existing Pandur IIs, and at the same time the question of what fundamentally better parameters the Pandur II EVO will offer. According to the available information, it is also clear that a solution in the form of German Boxers would probably be the most costly, and at first glance the Patria AMV XP looks like the clear favourite. The favourite was also the previous version in 2006 in the Czech competition, which subsequently became a never-ending story, which was imaginatively closed by the condemnation of Marek Dalík, advisor to Prime Minister Topolánek, and the acquisition of a competing type, which the army now wants to get rid of at mid-life. The hope that the new acquisition will be approached by the defence ministry with more responsibility is, of course, there, and those who follow the events in defence are already looking forward to the whole process.
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