Patria to upgrade Pasi armoured personnel carriers

Defence, security and aviation lifecycle support services provider Patria has received an estimated €35m order to upgrade Pasi armoured personnel carriers for the Finnish Defence Forces.

Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen has authorised the Defence Forces Logistics Command to procure supplementary lifecycle upgrades from Patria.

Under the order, Patria will carry out lifecycle upgrades for XA-180 armoured personnel carriers (Pasi) starting next year.

The modernisation of 139 XA-180 armoured personnel carriers seeks to ensure that the capability, condition and technical lifecycle of the armoured personnel carriers will extend into the 2040s.

Patria will upgrade the electric systems, strengthen power transmission components, and renew suspension and external coating.

Plans also include installation of seats with security belts in the vehicles.

The Finnish Ministry of Defence said the number of person-years is divided as Kanta-Häme region 50%, Pirkanmaa region 40%, and the rest of Finland 10%.

The procurement will continue the lifecycle upgrade that commenced in 2014. It is associated with the National Defence Development Programme that intends to develop the mobility of troops. Upgrades are planned to be carried out between 2020 and 2022.

Finland collaborates with Nato to enhance its defence capability, as well as the operational capabilities and interoperability of the Finnish Defence Forces.

The Finnish Ministry of Defence is in charge of national defence policy and security and international defence policy cooperation.

The ministry is also responsible for national military defence resources and the operating framework of the Defence Forces.

In June, Patria said that it is preparing to offer its solution for a remote-operated air traffic control system in Finland.