United Kingdom and Norway to join Finland-led Common Armoured Vehicle System Programme

United Kingdom and Norway to join Finland-led Common Armoured Vehicle System Programme

The United Kingdom and Norway will join the Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) multinational programme, which is led by Finland. Besides Finland, the programme already includes Latvia, Sweden, Germany and, most recently, Denmark who joined the programme earlier this year.

"The UK and Norway joining the CAVS programme will further strengthen the cooperation and operational performance of the participating countries through a compatible and cost-effective common vehicle system. The growing production capacity and the creation of new production lines in different countries reinforce the resilience and security of supply in the participating countries," said Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen.

The Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) programme was launched by the Finnish and Latvian ministries of defence in 2020. The goal is to develop an armoured 6x6 vehicle system for the needs of the participating countries. It is an example of a project to develop European defence and a token of the activity of the Finnish Ministry of Defence in the promotion of defence industry exports. The CAVS programme reinforces European defence and collaboration with NATO, and the European Commission has granted it EUR 60 million through the EDIRPA instrument.

Vehicles are already being delivered to Finland, Sweden and Latvia. Around 1,000 armoured vehicles have already been ordered, the latest order being placed by Denmark for 129 vehicles. Finland has ordered armoured personnel carriers and heavy armoured personnel carriers designed for crisis management operations. The armed forces of several other countries, too, have shown at least a preliminary interest in CAVS.

The CAVS programme is open to European countries with similar 6x6 armoured vehicle requirements. The programme offers opportunities for user cooperation, common exercises, common crisis management operations and missions and simplifies logistics and improves security of supply in Northern Europe.

Inquiries: Tom Lindén, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 405.