Lithuania’s State Defence Council has approved the procurement of Patria 6×6 armoured vehicles from Finland to build up its 1st Division, established last year.
The Division, formally identified as a priority at the NATO Summit in Madrid in 2022 and approved at the State Defence Council meeting in May 2023, marks Lithuania’s first national division in 250 years. Full Operational Capacity is targeted by 2030 and the Patria contract is central to getting there.
According to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, the country plans to purchase 935 Patria armoured vehicles, 300 of which are to be acquired by 2030, with a portion to be produced on Lithuanian territory.
Selected for its NATO compliance, interoperability with partners and industrial cooperation opportunities, the Patria 6×6 is primarily designed for troop transport, carrying up to 10 soldiers in the rear plus a crew of two in the front cabin, with all equipment hosted inside the protected hull based on a 72-hour mission requirement. Featuring fully independent suspension with continuous all-wheel drive and steering on the two front axles, it reaches a maximum speed of over 100 km/h with an operating range exceeding 700 km. Amphibious capability for water crossing is available as an option. Protection is provided through a modular ballistic, mine and IED system meeting STANAG level 2 as standard, with optional upgrade to level 4.
The Patria 6×6 AMV / From the official Twitter account of Patria Group
The modular design allows configuration for combat support roles including company command, medical evacuation, heavy APC and the 120 mm Patria Nemo mortar system. Powered by a 325 kW five-cylinder in-line diesel engine with an automatic 7+2 gear transmission, the Patria 6×6 has a maximum combat weight of 24,000 kg and a payload capacity of 8,500 kg.
Once in service, the vehicles will replace the legacy M113 armoured personnel carriers and will be deployed for command, medical, fire support, engineering, communications, reconnaissance and NBC defence roles, among others. They will operate alongside the 1st Division’s Boxer-Vilkas and CV90 MkIV infantry fighting vehicles.
Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence expects to sign the official contract with the manufacturer in 2027, with funding for the wheeled armoured vehicles planned to be secured through 2036. If finalised, this agreement will position Lithuania as the first country to acquire the Patria 6×6 outside the CAVS Programme.
The programme currently includes Finland, Latvia, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Germany and the UK. Deliveries have already been made to most participating nations, with the vehicles also being operational in Ukraine.