NATO's New Arctic Warrior: The Patria 6x6

European NATO allies are placing massive orders for the Patria CAVS 6x6, a rugged armored vehicle built specifically for Arctic warfare. The program, launched just five years ago, has already secured over 1,000 orders.

Finland's largest defense company, Patria, is expanding its production facilities to meet the surging demand from northern and western Europe. The vehicle is designed to traverse snow, marsh, and rivers while protecting troops from mines and artillery fire.

At Patria's Hämeenlinna facility, roughly 700 workers are constructing armored vehicles bound for countries including Japan, Sweden, and Slovakia. The factory is currently undergoing significant expansion to nearly double production capacity. Construction crews are clearing rocks with explosives to make way for several new assembly lines, with the goal of having the new facility ready for production by 2027.

The factory handles the final stages of manufacturing, including welding, surface treatment, and assembly. Before delivery, every vehicle is driven at least 200 km to ensure quality. The current backlog stands at nearly 2,000 vehicles.

• Clearing site space using explosives
• Adding multiple new assembly lines
• Targeting full production by 2027

What began as a bilateral partnership between Finland and Latvia has evolved into a consortium of seven member states. The Common Armored Vehicles System (CAVS) program aims to provide a cost-effective, mass-produced vehicle for military interoperability.

Germany has emerged as the program's largest buyer, signing contracts in mid-December to acquire 876 vehicles valued at $2.3 billion. Sweden has requested 415 units, while Denmark has ordered 129. The UK and Norway are currently negotiating their own orders.

Latvia has already deployed these vehicles to Ukraine, sending at least 42 units armed with heavy machine guns.

The CAVS 6x6 is a 17-ton, 25-foot-long troop transport capable of carrying roughly 10 troops plus a crew of two or three. It features up to NATO standard level 4 armor, designed to withstand direct hits from large-caliber machine gun fire, mine explosions, and nearby artillery blasts.

The vehicle is built to operate in temperatures as low as -40°F. It can cross tundra and rivers, utilizing optional propellers to transition from land to water at speeds just under 5 mph. On land, it can travel over 60 mph and cross four-foot-wide trenches.

Inside, the vehicle features a spartan design with metal-frame seats and screens that allow troops to view the exterior through cameras. Patria is also integrating counter-drone systems, such as jammers, into the vehicle.

Finland is renowned for building systems that perform in brutal Arctic conditions, a specialty honed by the country's history of defending against the Soviet Union. Patria emphasizes that while the vehicle can be outfitted for deserts, its forte is the Arctic domain.

The vehicle addresses the specific challenges of the Finnish border with Russia, where few roads exist and the terrain is peppered with lakes and swamps. As NATO forces train on Finnish terrain, the vehicle's ability to move troops quickly through wet soil and snow is a priority.

According to Mikko Rantanen, Patria's director for 6x6 vehicle programs, the interior is designed for survival in extreme cold: "Inside, it will be comfortable enough to easily survive. We are talking about temperatures of the plus centigrades."