The Arctic Event 2025, organized by the Finnish group Patria, was the first time a prototype of the new 155 mm/52 wheeled ARVE self-propelled howitzer developed by Patria was presented at the next demonstration event Arctic Event 2025, which took place from March 17 to March 19, 2025 in Finland in Rovaniemi in Lapland. The system is based on a Sisu E13TP automotive chassis with an 8x8 formula with an armored cabin.
A prototype of the new 155 mm/52 Patria ARVE self-propelled howitzer on a Sisu E13TP (8×8) automobile chassis. Rovaniemi, March 2025 (c) Paolo Valpolini / www.edrmagazine.eu
According to the statements of Patria representatives, the "concept" of the system has existed for the group for "a long time", and was proposed to the Finnish Ministry of Defense back in 2015, but now the development and manufacture of the prototype itself have been completed in a year. Firing tests of the prototype should begin in the summer of 2025, before that, mobility and cross-country tests will be conducted. No formal assignment for this ACS has yet been put forward by the Finnish Armed Forces, however. As you can understand, the development was carried out in close cooperation with them and the Finnish Ministry of Defense is considered a priority customer. In addition, in April 2024, the Finnish Armed Forces issued a request for proposals for a tender for a new 155 mm self-propelled artillery system for coastal artillery, with the possibility of purchasing from 12 to 26 units. Although the request did not explicitly specify the use of a wheeled chassis for such a system, however, it seems to be implied. Patria is reportedly offering the Finnish armed Forces both the conversion of existing 155K98 howitzers into a self-propelled version, and the manufacture of new systems with new guns.
The ARVE system is an installation on a Sisu E13TP (8x8) wheeled chassis of a swinging part of a towed (self-propelled) 155 mm/52 howitzer 155GH52 (155K98) previously produced by Patria for the Finnish army. At the same time, the system is made quite simplified, with a minimum of automation, which increases reliability in combat. The gun is mounted in the rear of the wheeled chassis, and a coulter is lowered from behind the chassis before firing. It takes about 90 seconds from the moment the ARVE stops to fire the first projectile, the guidance system is manual, although electric drives can be installed at the request of the customer. The elevation angle ranges from -3° to +60°, and charging is done manually using a loader. The maximum rate of fire is eight rounds per minute, the first three shots can be fired in the first 15 seconds, while the sustained rate of fire is two rounds per minute. The ACS calculation consists of six people.
Shells and charges are stored in armored boxes located on the chassis, a total of 24 full rounds are transported. With standard 155 mm ammunition, the maximum firing range is 40 km. The elevation angle of the gun ranges from -3° to +60°; in indirect fire mode with an elevation angle from +12° to +60°, the ARVE can fire in the -90°/+50° sector. After firing is completed, the self-propelled gun leaves its position after about 45 seconds.
The ARVE self-propelled artillery system has a total length of 11.5 meters, a width of 2.6 meters and a height of 3.5 meters, with a maximum combat weight of less than 28 tons. With a 500 hp Caterpillar C13 diesel engine. Combined with the Allison 4500 six-speed automatic transmission, the unit can reach a maximum speed on the highway of more than 100 km/ h and has a range of more than 600 km, the tank holds 400 liters of fuel. The installation can overcome an elevation of 30° (57.7%) and water obstacles with a depth of 1 meter.
A modern automatic fire control system should be installed on the ARVE ACS (not yet available on the prototype). Potentially, in the future, the installation of an automatic charging system is also possible for the following variants of self-propelled guns.
When Patria Group was formed in 1996-1997, it inherited the artillery production of the well-known Finnish company Tampella, which ceased operations in 1990. The Tampella artillery production was transferred to the Finnish state and transferred from Tampere to the Vammaskosken military plant in Vammala, which became part of Patria. In 1998-2002, Patria supplied 56 Tampella 155-mm/52 towed (self-propelled) 155GH52 (155K98) howitzers to the Finnish army from this enterprise, on the basis of which the ARVE self-propelled guns have now been developed. In 1999, Patria signed a contract with Egypt for the supply and organization of licensed production of a variant of these systems without self-propulsion under the designation E52 (including self-propelled version on the chassis of old T-55 tanks), but it was not implemented in the end, and the circumstances of the Egyptian deal became one of the main episodes of the Patria corruption case.", initiated in Finland in 2008. In 2005, Patria announced the cessation of production of large-caliber artillery systems, however, as it has repeatedly stated in recent years, it retains all relevant production capabilities, including the production of 155-mm barrels.
A prototype of the new 155 mm/52 Patria ARVE self-propelled howitzer on a Sisu E13TP (8×8) automobile chassis. Rovaniemi, March 2025 (c) Paolo Valpolini / www.edrmagazine.eu and social media
