TSAMTO, September 2. Finnish Patria and Slovak engineering company CSM Industry have signed a memorandum of understanding on joint participation in a tender for the supply of 8x8 armored combat vehicles to the Slovak Armed Forces.
The agreement provides for cooperation in the supply and sale of eight-wheeled armored vehicles. According to Patria, CSM's production capabilities meet the requirements for the implementation of this project. As stated, the cooperation will create new jobs in the Slovak defense industry in the future.
According to the president of the Patria Ground Systems division, Jussi Jarvinen, the company would like to contribute to the development of the machine-building and defense industry in Slovakia, using the existing experience and innovations. The parties also believe that cooperation within the framework of the BBM delivery project with the 8x8 wheel formula will open up partnership opportunities in other programs, will attract qualified labor, gain experience and will contribute to the development of both companies.
As reported by TSAMTO, in March 2021, the Ministry of Defense of Slovakia announced the beginning of procedures for the implementation of a program for the supply of new infantry fighting vehicles to replace the tracked BVP-1, BVP-2 and BVP-M units of the country's armed forces.
According to available information, at the first stage, the Ministry of Defense plans to purchase 76 armored combat vehicles with an 8x8 wheel formula for arming two medium mechanized battalions. Their cost, including logistics support, ammunition and infrastructure, is estimated at 332 million euros. Presumably, the winner will be determined in 2021, and deliveries will be made in the period from 2023 to 2025. In total, it is planned to purchase up to 500 new BBMs.
