Estonia joins the development programme for sustained army mobility enhancement

Estonia has also joined the programme the objective of which is to develop a common armoured wheeled vehicle system for the armies of the participating countries.

On 29 Jan. 2020, Finland and Latvia signed a Technical Arrangement on launching a development programme for sustained army mobility enhancement. Estonia has also joined the programme the objective of which is to develop a common armoured wheeled vehicle system for the armies of the participating countries. The Ministry of Defence issued a release on Estonia joining the programme on 6 April 2020.

Based on national and multinational tests and evaluations, the vehicle chassis platform chosen for the basis of the development in-progress is the Finnish-made Patria 6X6 armoured wheeled vehicle chassis platform which met the set capability requirements.

This Finnish Army project programme aims at generating and securing wheeled mobility of the most capable operational forces of the Army capable of operating across the nation well into the 2040s.

- The development programme has advanced well, and Estonia joining it is a significant addition to the entire programme. The participation of several countries naturally also means that all the nations participating in the development programme must share the costs involved. The programme has aroused wider international interest as well, says the Inspector of the Infantry, Colonel Rainer Peltoniemi from the Army Command.

Next, the development programme advances to a product development phase the objective of which is to prepare a product development agreement between the participating nations and Patria concerning research and development involving different types of vehicle platforms. Other countries will also be allowed to join the product development agreement. Each country will make its decisions separately regarding actual procurements.

In case the development cooperation leads to vehicle system procurement in the future, the resulting combined system will enhance the mobility and cost-effectiveness, as well as international connectivity and national security of supply of the armies of the participating countries.

Ministry of Defence Press Release 6 April 2020:
Estonia joins the development programme for sustained army mobility enhancement together with Finland and Latvia

Ministry of Defence Press Release 29 Jan. 2020:
Finland and Latvia agreed on developing an armoured vehicle system – a Patria vehicle chassis platform chosen for the development in-progress

Army Press Release 29 Jan. 2020:
Cooperation programme for sustained army mobility enhancement launched

Ministry of Defence Press Release 17 Dec. 2019:
Finland, Estonia and Latvia signed a Letter of Intent concerning the development of armoured wheeled vehicle platform