Eurosatory 2022: Germany intends to join CAVS armoured vehicle programme

Finnish National Armaments Director Raimo Jyväsjärvi (left) and his German counterpart, Vice Admiral Carsten Stawitzki, signed a statement of intent for Germany to join the CAVS programme at Eurosatory 2022 on 14 June. (Patria)

Germany has signed a statement of intent to join the Finnish-led Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) programme, Patria and the Finnish Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced in separate press releases on the second day of the Eurosatory 2022 defence exhibition held in Paris from 13 to 17 June. The statement was signed by German National Armament Director Vice Admiral Carsten Stawitzki and his Finnish counterpart, Raimo Jyväsjärvi.

Germany will be the fifth country to join the first stage of the CAVS programme before the end of 2022, according to Patria, which will provide the 6×6 vehicle platform and is responsible for its system development.

“Having new parties involved in the programme benefits everybody in the form of improved mobility and maintenance capacity as well as increased cost-effectiveness,” said Hugo Vanbockryck, Patria's senior vice-president, Market Area Europe.

Finland, Latvia, and Estonia joined CAVS in 2019, followed two years later by Sweden.

The Finnish MoD said negotiations would be conducted to finalise Germany's accession to the programme and that discussions regarding the development and procurement of armoured vehicles in the framework of the programme would continue.

After development work is completed, the countries will sign individual production agreements specifying what versions they want to procure: troop transport, command, ambulance, and mortar carriers.

Latvia received its first four CAVS armoured personnel carriers (APCs) on 3 November 2021 after Latvian National Armed Forces personnel completed two weeks of user, instructor, and maintenance training at Patria in Hämeenlinna, Finland, the previous month to prepare to operate the vehicles.