Sweden and Finland will jointly procure more than 250 modular 4×4 protected vehicles, that can be fitted to complete a range of combat operations.
Sweden’s Defence Material Administration (FMV) has delivered the first vehicles of a new fleet of light utility platforms to the country’s military, with the initial units configured in a troop transport configuration ahead of the future handover of additional variants, including command and control and combat medical platforms.
Announcing the handover in a 15 August 2024 release, the FMV stated that the vehicles, manufactured by Finnish defence company Sisu Oy, were configured in a “troop transport variant”, with space to transport a total of ten personnel, and a double cab with flatbed and canopy variant that can accommodate a total of five personnel.
The FMV will finalise delivery of the protected 4×4 platforms, which will serve under the designation TGB24, through the autumn, following the completion of verification tests. The 4x4s, weighing 16.5 tons, have a common base chassis that can interchange modules as required.
Procured under a joint framework with Finland in order to provide increased commonality in the two countries’ logistics chain and on operations, the programme will “lower development costs and unit prices” when ordering batches, according to Micael Ågren Berner, head of department wheeled vehicles at the FMV.
“This is a good example of cooperation with fast processes and with fast deliveries within the framework of the Swedish-Finnish defence cooperation. The dialogue between FMV, the Swedish Armed Forces and Sisu Oy has been carried out without friction, which has been a prerequisite for getting this order and delivery through in such a short time,” said Micael Ågren Berner.
In total, Sweden and Finland have ordered more than 260 units across the planned family of vehicles, which also includes anti-aircraft variant.
TGB24 another example of joint European procurements
Joint procurement of defence equipment is growing across European countries seeking to sustain their own defence industrial bases against competition from US and other international suppliers.