Official press releases, news and speeches that the minister has held are located in this section. The Ministry of Defence publishes all of its press releases and news in Finnish and Swedish and many of them in English, too.
Press Releases
Denmark to join Finland-led CAVS Framework Agreement
Denmark joins by once into the all three main agreements of Common Armoured Vehicle System CAVS Programme (Research & Development Agreement, Framework Agreement and Life Cycle Management Frame Agreement) which enables developing new vehicle variants, serial procurements of CAVS vehicles from Patria and guarantees joint life cycle management services. Denmark joined into the CAVS Programme earlier this year. The other participants of CAVS Programme are Finland, Sweden, Germany and Latvia.
- We are very pleased that Denmark moves ahead with Finland-led CAVS Programme. We have actively marketed our co-procurement programme to allies and partners, says Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen.
Denmark moves fast forward with the procurements of CAVS vehicles and signed their first procurement contract for 129 vehicles with Patria right after joining into the joint frame agreements. The first deliveries are planned already this year.
The CAVS project exemplifies the increasing procurement cooperation in accordance with the EU defence strategy, the development of European defence and the Ministry of Defence’s activity in promoting Finnish defence industry. Programme strengthens European defence and NATO cooperation and has been granted by the European Commission EUR 60 million EDIRPA funding.
- The CAVS project allows Member States to procure modern armoured vehicles quickly and cost-effectively. Its extensive industrial cooperation within the EU will improve the security of supply and readiness of the EU and the capabilities of the European defence industry. The countries participating in the CAVS project benefit from common procurement, product development and life-cycle management. Denmark is good addition to strengthen CAVS cooperation and on behalf of the CAVS countries Finland, Sweden, Germany and Latvia, I would like to wish Denmark once again welcome to the CAVS Programme as a full member, Häkkänen says.
The goal of the CAVS project, which was launched in cooperation between Defence Ministries of Finland and Latvia in 2020, is to develop an armoured 6x6 vehicle system for the needs of EU Member States. Vehicles are already being delivered to Finland, Sweden and Latvia. The three countries have ordered around 1000 armoured vehicles from Patria. The most recent order for C2 vehicles came from Latvia in 2024. Finland has ordered armoured personnel carriers and heavy armoured personnel carriers designed for crisis management operations. In addition to the previously mentioned, defence forces of various countries have expressed at least their tentative interest in the CAVS vehicles.
The CAVS project is open to European countries with similar 6x6 armoured vehicle requirements. Having Denmark, Germany and Sweden on board enables user cooperation, joint exercises, crisis management operations and missions between Nordic and Baltic Sea countries and simplifies logistics and improves security of supply.
Inquiries: Tom Lindén, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 405