Babcock and Patria Partner To Offer Patria’s 6×6 APC To The British Army
Babcock and Patria announced on Wednesday the signing of a memorandum of understanding to offer Patria’s 6×6 Armored Personnel Carrier to the British Army.
Announced during Defence IQ’s International Armoured Vehicles 2024 conference, the partnership targets the UK’s Land Mobility Program – Medium, which aims to procure a new wheeled vehicle of up to 20,000 kg in weight. The broader Land Mobility Program is intended to replace the 13 wheeled vehicle types currently in use with the British Army with four vehicle families.
The partnership will see Patria leading the design and development of the Patria 6×6 to meet British Army requirements, with “bespoke” enhancements to the design, which the Finnish firm currently builds for the Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) program. Variants of the 6×6 design as used in CAVS are now operated by Latvia, Sweden and Finland, with Patria saying that over 200 6x6s ordered through the program have been delivered to date.
Babcock will lead on the creation of a manufacturing program for the 6×6 in the United Kingdom in keeping with the UK Ministry of Defence’s Land Industrial Strategy, as well as leading the development of a platform support package that will maintain operational readiness of the vehicle throughout its life.
“We are pleased to start a unique partnership that will provide significant added value for the United Kingdom,” said Hugo Vanbockryck, Senior Vice President, Market Area for Patria. “Europe needs collaboration and joint procurements and the UK rapidly needs a cost-effective, fully developed, off-the-shelf vehicle platform. Patria 6×6 is already in production, fielded by NATO partner nations and will be manufactured and supported locally in the UK to meet the high requirements and technical standards of the British Army.”
Tom Newman, CEO of Babcock’s Land Sector, said: “The partnership between Patria and Babcock presents the UK Armed Forces with the highest performing in-service armoured personnel carrier. Babcock’s skilled workforce, innovative facilities and promotion of social value ensures that the ethos of the UK Land Industrial Strategy is met. The partnership combines the highest quality British and Finnish engineering to make sure that the British Army is ready for its next mission.”