The Slovak defense ministry has selected Finnish armored vehicle manufacturer Patria as the preferred contractor for its BOV 8×8 infantry fighting vehicle program.
Under the government-to-government contract between Slovakia and Finland, Patria will supply 76 IFVs at this stage of the program.
The contract for the AMVXP 8×8 vehicles is worth 447 million euros and includes including logistics, ammunition and infrastructure. The IFVs will feature Turra-30 weapons station and a 30 mm cannon.
The first of the vehicles could be delivered as early as next year. The new IFVs will replace the ageing fleet of Soviet-era BVP-1, BVP-2 and BVP M tracked combat vehicles currently in service.
The government decision was based on bids submitted at the end of 2021, as well as vehicle and weapon system tests carried out in February 2022. Patria’s offer was the best match to the requirements.
According to the Slovak defense ministry, the acquisition price alone represented 35% of the evaluation, technical specifications 30%, logistical support, i.e. the life cycle calculation of the technology had a weight of 10% while a quarter of the evaluation was the degree of involvement of the Slovak defense industry.
Patria was selected over Rheinmetall and BAE Systems, the other two companies that had confirmed they submitted proposals for the competition. It is unclear whether there were other bidders in the program, as Slovakia did not reveal the names of the competitors.
“This is the most advantageous comprehensive offer, which fully meets the technical and operational requirements of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic and is fully compatible with NATO systems. The new technology will replace infantry fighting vehicles that are at the end of their technical life, not to mention their declining operability in the period when the demands on the readiness of the Slovak Armed Forces are growing,” said Slovakia’s defense minister Jaroslav Naď.
“Patria is known for its successful technology transfer programs and is fully focused on the security of supply and long-term cooperation with Slovakia. The Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic will get state-of-the-art, modular, high-performance and robust armored combat Patria AMVXP 8×8 vehicles,” Hugo Vanbockryck, Patria’s senior vice president for market area Europe in Patria, commented.
