On April 1, 2025, Denmark signed the Technical Arrangement to formally join the multinational Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) program. This makes Denmark the fifth participating country, following Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Germany. The CAVS program, initiated in 2019 by Finland and Latvia, aims to jointly develop, procure, and manage a 6×6 armoured wheeled vehicle platform based on the Patria 6×6 design. The program remains open to additional European nations with compatible equipment requirements, subject to the approval of current participants.
Following Denmark’s accession, the country announced the procurement of 130 6×6 armoured personnel carriers from the Finnish manufacturer Patria. The total value of the acquisition is approximately 1,9 milliarder kroner (around €247 million), financed via the Danish government’s Accelerationsfonden. The purchase is intended to contribute to the reconstitution and modernization of the Danish Armed Forces. A limited number of vehicles are already scheduled for delivery in 2025 for training and familiarization purposes. Larger deliveries are expected from 2026 onward.
The acquired vehicles will be used for the build-up of combat capability in both the light infantry battalion and the heavy brigade. The vehicles will be used by both infantry and engineer units and serve in various roles, including command post, communications, ambulances, and electronic warfare.
The Patria 6×6, also designated as Patria XA-300, is a six-wheeled armoured personnel carrier developed and manufactured by Patria. The vehicle is designed to carry two or three crew members and up to ten troops. It features a DC09 Scania inline-5 diesel engine with 294 kW of output and 1,870 Nm of torque. The vehicle has a payload capacity of 8.5 tonnes and can reach speeds of over 100 km/h on land and up to 8 km/h in water. Operational range is up to 700 km. The standard vehicle protection is rated at STANAG 4569 Level K2/M2a/b, with optional upgrades to Level K4/M4a/b. Suspension options include independent coil springs or hydropneumatic systems.