DTN News: BAE Systems Awarded Contract To Enhance Capability Of Finnish Air Force

DTN News: BAE Systems Awarded Contract To Enhance Capability Of Finnish Air Force

Source: DTN News / BAE Systems

(NSI News Source Info) YEOVIL, United Kingdom - September 6, 2010: BAE Systems has been awarded a contract to provide a Link 16 network management system to the Finnish Air Force. Supporting the operation of Finland's F-18 aircraft, the system will enable ground command and control operators to connect to, and maintain contact with, their fast jets across the entire country. BAE Systems will work in partnership with Rockwell Collins, the prime contractor and team leader for the Ground Station programme. Under the contract, BAE Systems will provide all the software to set up the infrastructure, configure and control the various remote sites and configure and manage the Link 16 network. BAE Systems will also provide a simulation environment which that will provide the Finnish Air Force with the ability to participate in high fidelity collaborative training exercises whilst still supporting live operations. Built upon a set of proven systems the network management system provides a low risk, innovative solution to meet the complex operational requirements of the Finnish Air Force, along with the challenges of the terrain and environment in which the system will operate. The Link 16 network management solution offered by BAE Systems allows the Finnish Air Force to dynamically monitor the connectivity between the various ground sites and the aircraft, and to continuously measure how the network is performing to maintain an uninterrupted service. Paul Burke BAE Systems Business Director said: "We are delighted to be part of the team delivering this capability as we have unparalleled experience in the provision of complex data link network management and support systems. The solution for the Finnish Air Force is based on systems successfully delivered by us to the UK MOD that allow monitoring and management of the UK's Link 16 network, achieving greater than 99% reliability over the period since their introduction. About BAE Systems BAE Systems is a global defence, security and aerospace company with approximately 107,000 employees worldwide. The Company delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. In 2009 BAE Systems reported sales of £22. 4 billion (US$ 36. 2 billion).

For further information, please contact: Nicky Donovan, BAE Systems Tel: +44 (0) 1935 443196

Email: nicky. donovan@baesystems.com

DTN News: Patria And Croatian MoD Agreed On An Amendment To The Armoured Wheeled Vehicle Contract

DTN News: Patria And Croatian MoD Agreed On An Amendment To The Armoured Wheeled Vehicle Contract

Source: DTN News / Patria

(NSI News Source Info) HELSINKI, Finland - August 24, 2010: Patria and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Croatia signed an Amendment related to the manufacturing and delivery contract of 126 Patria AMV 8x8 wheeled armoured vehicles on July 2010. The negotiations were started on the Croatian MoD’s initiative due to the financial reasons. According to the amendment the number of vehicles remains unchanged and the deliveries will be completed by the end of 2012. The vehicle versions were updated to match the current requirements of the Ministry of Defence. Majority of the vehicles will be manufactured in Croatia by Patria’s local consortium partner Duro Dakovic Special Vehicles (DDSV).The new revised contract also strengthens financial capabilities of DDSV in this program. In addition to the initial batch of 6 vehicles manufactured in Finland Patria has completed the transfer of technology to DDSV. DDSV has already locally manufactured the first 9 Patria AMV 8x8 basic vehicles. “Patria is very pleased that the amendment negotiations were concluded in good cooperation and understanding with all parties. This new amendment further strengthens Patria’s leading position as the supplier of armoured wheeled vehicles but also opens possibilities for future business opportunities with our Croatian partner”, states Mr Seppo Seppälä, President of Patria Land & Armament Oy. Patria is a defence, security and aerospace group with international operations delivering its customers competitive solutions based on own specialist know-how and partnerships. Patria is owned by the State of Finland and the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V.

**Link to this article "Patria And Croatian MoD Agreed On An Amendment To The Armoured Wheeled Vehicle Contract - Patria"

*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com

Contact Person: Patria

Seppo Seppälä

President, Patria Land & Armament Oy

Tel. +358 40 869 2680

Related Press Releases and News *23.08.2010 Patria and Croatian MoD agreed on an Amendment to the Armoured Wheeled Vehicle contract *13.08.2010 Patria wins the Swedish armoured wheeled vehicle contract *07.07.2010 Patria received a continuation order from the Finnish Air Force for Vinka basic training and Vinka fleet’s technical support *23.06.2010 Patria to receive an order for Upgrade of the Finnish Navy Fast Attack Crafts *23.06.2010 Corporate criminal liability requested for Patria subsidiary in connection with a howitzer project to Egypt 1998 - 2004

DTN News: Finland Upgrading Hornet Fighters

DTN News: Finland Upgrading Hornet Fighters Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources including YLE Finnish Broadcasting Corp.; issued Aug. 8, 2010

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 10, 2010: The Finnish Defence Forces are preparing to spend more than a billion euros in the upgrading of its fleet of F-18 Hornet jet fighters. The US-built planes are at about the halfway point of their effective lifespans. The upgrade is set to extend their usefulness so that new fighters would not be needed before 2025. Nevertheless, the Finnish Air Forces is looking at other possible jet fighters on the market. The most recent achievement of advanced military aviation is the American F-35 fighter, which Norway’s air force is planning to acquire. Finland is also looking at the F-35, although the super-modern jet is also super expensive. Precision Weapons for Hornet The Air Force says that it is now concentrating on the upgrading of the Hornet. The planes, which are primarily attended to give the Finns the capability to repulse an attack, are being modified to function as assault planes, capable of hitting land targets from a long distance. Army Also Upgrading Equipment The Finnish Army is also planning to upgrade much of its materiel. East German equipment, including Leopard tanks which were acquired in the 1990s, is becoming obsolete. A key requirement in new acquisitions is compatibility with NATO systems, even though Finland has no immediate plans to join the alliance.

Finnish Air Force - F-18 Hornet The F-18 Hornet is the Finnish Air Force variant of the Boeing IDS F/A-18 Hornet multi-role attack and fighter aircraft. The aircraft is almost identical to a late F/A-18C/D used by the US Navy, as well as the Hornets used by the Swiss Air Force, although no air-to-ground equipment or weapons were purchased with the aircraft. The decision to rename the aircraft to F-18 was mainly a political decision to underline the air defense role of the fighters.

The decision to purchase the aircraft (64 in total, with 7 two-seat F-18D models and 57 single-seated F-18C models) was made in 1992, soon after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. The original plan was to buy about 40 western fighters and about 20 Soviet fighters due to political reasons, but after the collapse of the Soviet Union this was no longer necessary. The plan changed to 60 single-seat + 7 dual seat fighters of the same type, and the F-18 won the contest. To keep the budget the number of fighters to be purchased was decreased by three, to 57+7. The 57 single-seat aircraft were produced in Finland by Patria.

*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com

YLE Finnish Broadcasting Corp. ~ Related News

Newspaper Poll: Niinistö Most Popular for President

[News] published Sun 07:28 PM

A poll published by the newspaper Helsingin Sanomat indicates that Speaker of Parliament Sauli Niinistö is the most popular potential candidate for the Finnish presidency.

Finland Upgrading Hornet Fighters

[News] published Sun 06:56 PM

The Finnish Defence Forces are preparing to spend more than a billion euros in the upgrading of its fleet of F-18 Hornet jet fighters.

Finavia Says Wingo May Not Start Flights to Pori, Seinäjoki

[News] updated yesterday 03:51 PM

Finland's aviation authority Finavia says that travel operator Wingo will not be able to begin flying from Helsinki to Pori and Seinäjoki as advertised. Wingo says it will be flying the routes on Wednesday.

Injuries at Sudden Storm at Pori Music Festival

[News] updated yesterday 08:22 PM

Two people injured at last weekend's Sonisphere Music Festival in Pori are no longer in critical condition. On Sunday, a sudden and unusually powerful storm surprised festival fans and knocked part of a stage into the crowd.

Smoke from Russia Affects Air Quality

[News] updated yesterday 05:54 PM

Air quality in the south and east of Finland has deteriorated significantly owing to smoke that has been spreading into the area from forest fires in Russia. Health experts are advising against strenuous exercise out of doors while there is smoke in the air.

Finalist Dies in Sauna Competition

[News] updated yesterday 05:47 PM

The “World Sauna Championships” in the Finnish city of Heinola came to a tragic end on Saturday evening when one of the finalists, a Russian man, died in the end stages of the competition. He was competing against a Finnish man who was hospitalised.

About 8,000 Households without Electricity

[News] updated Sun 06:36 PM

About 8,000 households around Finland were still without electricity Sunday evening in the aftermath of severe weatherin recent days and weeks.

Disfigured Afghan Woman on Time Cover Also Got Finnish Help

[News] published Sat 06:22 PM

Bibi Aisha, a 19-year-old Afghan woman whose disfigured face was on a recent cover of the US news magazine Time lived for a while in a women’s refuge maintained by Finnish development cooperation funds. A YLE news journalist interviewed Aisha in June. The possibility of her having reconstructive surgery in Finland was discussed, but she is now in the United States for treatment.

Russian Wildfires Pollute Finnish Air

[News] updated Sat 07:00 PM

Forest fires raging in Russia are negatively affecting air quality in Finland. Airborne smoke particles can cause symptoms for the most sensitive especially in the east of Finland.

Wingo Considers Flights to Pori, Seinäjoki

[News] updated yesterday 05:45 PM

The travel service company Wingo is holding talks with its financiers on Saturday on the possibility of opening service to Seinäjoki and Pori. On Monday, Finncomm Airlines announced that it would cancel flights to the two cities, a move that would deprive them of scheduled passenger air service.

Train Tracks in East Cleared of Fallen Trees

[News] updated Sat 02:34 PM

Trains in the east of Finland are on schedule again after trees felled by Wednesday’s stormy were cleared away from the tracks. Buses were used to substitute trains between Imatra and Joensuu until Friday evening.

Patria Sells Gunpowder Factory to French Company

[News] updated Fri 08:24 PM

The Finnish defence manufacturer Patria has sold its share in the Vihtavuori gunpowder factory to the French company Eurenco. Before the sale, Eurenco owned about 60 percent of Vihtavuori, and Patria and the Swedish Saab had shares of about 20 percent each.

DTN News: Finnish Fighter Jets Damaged By Volcanic Cloud

DTN News: Finnish Fighter Jets Damaged By Volcanic Cloud Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) HELSINKI - April 17, 2010: Finnish fighter jets which flew through the volcanic dust covering much of Europe suffered damage and the air force warned Friday the cloud could have a significant impact on planes. The air force F-18 Hornet jets were on training flights in northern Finland on Thursday morning, when airspace was still open, and the engines were later found to contain fine, volcanic ash dust. "Based on the pictures, it was discovered that even short flights in ash dust may cause significant damage to an airplane's engine," the Finnish Defence Forces said in a statement. Images taken inside one Hornet engine with a fibroscope camera indicated that the heat of the engine — around 1,000 degrees Celcius — had melted the ash inside the engine, blocking ventilation channels. "Blockages of ventilation channels caused by melting ash lead engine components to overheat and material to weaken," it said, adding this could fracture rotating engine parts. In the worst case, the weakening of component materials could cause "parts to detach and the engine to be destroyed," it said. The Hornets exposed to the dust from the eruption of a volcano in Iceland would be checked thoroughly, with "at least some" of the engines detached and sent for further studies and repair. The air force would keep a Hawk combat aircraft equipped with a tank to take atmospheric samples on standby to assist civilian authorities as necessary, it said, adding that operative military flights would continue normally. Samples taken by the plane, which collects particle samples in a filter in the tank, could be used to analyze how much ash dust was in the air. A huge cloud of volcanic ash from Iceland has spread over large part of Europe, shutting airports and forcing the cancellation of thousands of flights. Finland's airports were shut Thursday at midnight and flights are not due to resume until Saturday afternoon at earliest.

DTN News: Finnish Border Guard Orders An AW119Ke Helicopter

DTN News: Finnish Border Guard Orders An AW119Ke Helicopter *Source: DTN News / AgustaWestland

(NSI News Source Info) VERGIATE, Italy - January 23, 2010: AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the Finnish Border Guard has ordered a fourth AW119Ke single engine helicopter.

The Finnish Border Guard chose the AW119Ke in 2008 to sustain its fleet modernization and enhancement programme. All four helicopters will be used to perform various tasks including border patrol, special operations and fire fighting.

The first three helicopters ordered will enter service during the 3rd quarter of 2010 and will operate from Helsinki and Rovaniemi (Arctic Circle) bases, flying in the harshest environmental and weather conditions and covering the entire Finnish/Russian border.

The Finnish Border Guard will also be provided with a tailored training and support package as part of the contract. The original order for three aircraft marked the entrance of AgustaWestland's AW119Ke helicopter into the European law enforcement and homeland security helicopter market. This purchase continues and strengthens the longstanding relationship between AgustaWestland and the Finnish Border Guard who has been supplied with AB206 JetRanger and AB412 helicopters.

The Finnish Border Guard’s AW119Ke helicopters will be fitted with dedicated tactical equipment and certified to perform missions using Night Vision Goggles (NVGs). The AW119Ke's law enforcement and homeland security variant has a patrol time of approximately 5 hours and also has the largest cabin in its class which can be quickly reconfigured for different missions. The AW119Ke also delivers outstanding performance whilst having low operating costs. The Finnish Border Guard adds to a large number of leading customers who are operating or have chosen this helicopter type for homeland security and public service applications in several countries including the United States, Mexico, China, Republic of Korea, Spain and Uganda. Approximately 190 helicopters have been ordered to date by over 90 customers in 30 countries to perform roles such as law enforcement, EMS, VIP/corporate transport, offshore transport and fire fighting.

The Finnish Border Guard is responsible for Finland's internal security, reporting to the Ministry of the Interior. The main functions of the Border Guard are guarding Finland's land borders and territorial waters, carrying out passport control at border crossing points, ports and airports, as well as law enforcement, maritime safety and performing search and rescue operations, especially at sea.

DTN News: Missing Channel Pirate Ship Carried Russian Arms For Iran

DTN News: Missing Channel Pirate Ship Carried Russian Arms For Iran *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) TEL AVIV, Israel - September 8, 2009: A cargo ship that vanished in the Channel was carrying arms to Iran and was being tracked by Mossad, the Israeli security service, according to sources in both Russia and Israel. The Arctic Sea, officially carrying a cargo of timber worth £1.3m, disappeared en route from Finland to Algeria on July 24. It was recovered off west Africa on August 17 when eight alleged hijackers were arrested. The Kremlin has consistently denied that the vessel was carrying a secret cargo. It claims the ship was hijacked by criminals who demanded a £1m ransom. The official version was challenged by sources in Tel Aviv and Moscow who claimed the ship had been loaded with S-300 missiles, Russia's most advanced anti-aircraft weapon, while undergoing repairs in the Russian port of Kaliningrad. "Mossad, which closely monitors arms supplies to Iran, is said to have tipped off the Russian government that the shipment had been sold by former military officers linked to the underworld. The Kremlin then ordered a naval rescue mission which involved destroyers and submarines. Any evidence that the Kremlin had let advanced weaponry fall into the hands of criminals or be sold to Iran would be highly embarrassing, so military officials believe a "cover story" was concocted. "The official version is ridiculous and was given to allow the Kremlin to save face," said a Russian military source. "I've spoken to people close to the investigation and they've pretty much confirmed Mossad's involvement. It's laughable to believe all this fuss was over a load of timber. I'm not alone in believing that it was carrying weapons to Iran." The alleged hijackers, four Estonians, two Russians and two Latvians, will go on trial in Moscow. According to the Kremlin's account, they boarded the Arctic Sea in the Baltic by claiming their inflatable craft was in trouble and then took over the ship at gunpoint. Sources in Moscow suggested Mossad may have played a part in the alleged hijacking by setting up a criminal gang, who were unlikely to have known anything about a secret cargo. "The best way for the Israelis to block the cargo from reaching Iran would have been to create a lot of noise around the ship," said a former army officer. "Once the news of the hijack broke, the game was up for the arms dealers. The Russians had to act. That's why I don't rule out Mossad being behind the hijacking. It stopped the shipment and gave the Kremlin a way out so that it can now claim it mounted a brilliant rescue mission." According to Israeli military sources, Israel received intelligence that weapons bound for Iran were being loaded in Kaliningrad, a port notorious for gun runners. "A decision was then taken to inform the Kremlin," said the source. Had the S-300 missiles been delivered, Iran would have significantly strengthened its air defences. An Israeli air force source said that in the event of an attack on Iranian nuclear installations, such missiles could increase Israeli casualties by 50%. Since the Arctic Sea was retaken, Russia has imposed a security blackout. The hijackers, the crew and two investigative teams were flown back to Moscow in three Il-76 air freight planes. For more than a week after being freed the crew were not allowed to talk to their families. The captain and three crew are still on board the ship, which has resumed its voyage to Algeria, but they have not been able to call home. Last week Mikhail Voitenko, an outspoken piracy expert who disputed the Kremlin's original version of events, fled Russia, claiming he had received threats from an official angered by his statements. Admiral Tarmo Kouts, former commander of Estonia's armed forces and the European Union's rapporteur on piracy, has infuriated Moscow by saying the only plausible explanation of the mystery is that the ship was transporting weapons. A spokesman for the Finnish owners denied that missiles could have been secretly loaded onto the ship. Sources who suspect Mossad's involvement point to a visit to Moscow by Shimon Peres, the Israeli president, the day after the Arctic Sea was rescued. Peres held four hours of private talks with Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian president. Although the Israeli foreign ministry would not be drawn on the Arctic Sea, it confirmed that the two leaders had discussed the sale of Russian weapons to countries hostile to Israel. According to Israeli officials, Peres received verbal guarantees from the Russians that they would not sell advanced weapons systems to Iran or Syria. "Clearly the Israelis played a role in the whole Arctic Sea saga," said a Russian military source. "Peres used the incident as a bargaining chip over the issue of arms sales to Arab states, while Israel allowed the Kremlin a way out with its claims to have successfully foiled a piracy incident."

DTN News: Slovenia Renegotiating Patria Armored Vehicle Deal

DTN News: Slovenia Renegotiating Patria Armored Vehicle Deal

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) HELSINKI, Finland - September 4, 2009: Finnish defense company Patria said Sept. 2 it was in talks with the Slovenian government to renegotiate a contract for armored vehicles after the deal became hampered by delays and alleged bribery. Ljubljana signed an agreement with Patria in 2006 for 135 armored vehicles worth $395 million (278 million euros) - the biggest military contract signed by Slovenia. But now Slovenia wants to slash that order by almost half. The Slovenian government "would like to reduce the number to around 80," Seppo Seppaelae, head of Patria's land and armament unit, told AFP. Seppaelae said he expected an agreement to be struck, adding that 13 vehicles had been delivered to Slovenia. In April, Ljubljana was reported to be considering canceling the contract with Patria due to delivery delays. The Slovenian government threatened to cancel the contract in 2008 after it emerged Finnish police were investigating bribery allegations related to the deal. Kaj-Erik Bjoerkqvist, a senior detective in charge of the investigation, told AFP on Sept. 2 that he hoped police inquiries would be completed by the end of the year. The Finnish state owns 73 percent of Patria, while EADS has a 27 percent stake.

DTN News: Boeing Upgrades F-18 Training Systems For Finnish Air Force

DTN News: Boeing Upgrades F-18 Training Systems For Finnish Air Force

*Source: DTN News / Boeing (NSI News Source Info) ST. LOUIS, USA - August 6, 2009: Boeing [NYSE: BA] yesterday August 5, announced that it has delivered upgrades for three F-18 Weapons Tactics and Situational Awareness Training Systems (WTSAT) to the Finnish Air Force.

The F-18 Hornet is the Finnish Air Force variant of the Boeing IDS F/A-18 Hornet multi-role attack and fighter aircraft. It lacks certain avionics, target acquisition and weapon control features, limiting its ground attack capability. The aircrew trainers now offer the capability to train for aerial refueling and provide a long-haul networking capability that allows the systems to link over a Wide Area Network. "These training system upgrades deliver advanced capabilities to our Finnish Air Force customer," said Mark McGraw, vice president of Boeing Training Systems and Services. "Finnish F-18 Hornet pilots at one site will now be able to engage in shared training sessions with pilots at other sites and fly virtual missions together via an industry-recognized high-level architecture, which ensures simulation devices can talk and share data over the network." The WTSAT features a simulated head-up display, three Debrief Stations (DBS), an upgraded flight program simulation, and enhanced Instructor-Operator Station capabilities. This delivery also included upgrades for three Deployable Tactics Trainers (DTTs) delivered in December 2007. "We have made it easier for the customer to conduct networked training and run their missions," said John Gilbert, WTSAT program manager for Boeing. "The WTSATs, DTTs, and DBS can now interact simultaneously on simulated missions and debriefs. Training missions that previously required an instructor at each site now can be accomplished with one instructor controlling all the scenarios from one location." The upgrades integrate a supplier's visual system with Boeing hardware and software. A single software baseline runs in all three devices. A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide.

DTN News: Finland To Upgrade Leopard Tanks, XA-180 AFVs

DTN News: Finland To Upgrade Leopard Tanks, XA-180 AFVs

*Sources: DTN News / European Defence Agency; issued June 30, 2009

(NSI News Source Info) HELSINKI, Finland - July 3, 2009: The Finnish Defence Forces Materiel Command HQ has issued the following contract opportunities notices:

-- LEOPARD 2A4 -SYSTEM MID LIFE UPGRADE:

Army Command has established a Program for Upgrading Finnish Leopard 2 A4 Main Battle Tanks and sent an order to Army Materiel Command to establish a project to execute the acquisition.

In order to be able to fulfil the order, Army Materiel Command Headquarters has decided to issue an RFI to gather more information.

The Finnish Army bought 124 2A4s from surplus German stocks. 20 have been converted into bridge-laying and combat engineering tanks. 12 tanks have been disassembled for use as spares and one tank burned and was a total loss, leaving 91 operational tanks.

This information will be used as basis for the project. Leopard 2 AX –project acquires a Mid Life Upgrade (MLU) for Finnish Leopard 2 A4 main battle tanks (MBT’s). The MLU shall ensure the usability and performance of the fleet as defined in the Clause 3 at least to the 2030s.

--XA-180 AND XA-185 -SYSTEMS MID LIFE UPGRADE:

Army Command has established a Program for Upgrading the ‘XA-180’ and ‘XA-185’ wheeled vehicles and sent an order to Army Materiel Command to establish a project to execute the acquisition.

In order to be able to fulfil the order, Army Materiel Command Headquarters has decided to issue an RFI to gather more information. This information will be used as basis for the project. The XA-180 and XA-185 wheeled vehicles project acquires a Mid Life Upgrade (MLU) for the XA-180 and XA-185 wheeled vehicles.

Finland ~ Finnish Army, Finnish Navy, Finnish Police. 425 XA-180s and 185s, 148 XA-200s XA-180, most upgraded to 185 specs, and configured with special communications equipment XA-185, the most common version, some equipped with TOW turret, most of the Finnish vehicles are armed with a 12.7 mm NSV machine gun.

The MLU shall ensure the usability and performance of the fleet as defined in the Clause 3 at least to the 2030s.

DTN News: BAE Plans To Challenge Swedish Vehicle Move

DTN News: BAE Plans To Challenge Swedish Vehicle Move *DTN News: Patria Wins Swedish Armored Modular Vehicles Contract....June 27, 2009 (Click here) *Sources: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) HELSINKI, Finland - July 3, 2009: BAE Systems Hägglunds plans to file a legal challenge to a preliminary decision by the Swedish government to acquire an initial 113 AMVs from Patria in Finland, while abandoning plans to continue funding for the Spitterskyddad Enhets Platform (SEP) modular armored tactical vehicle project headed by parent company BAE Systems. "We are not happy with the government's decision and we feel a legal challenge is warranted," said Jan Söderström, BAE Systems Hägglund's managing director. The distress caused to BAE by the setback to the SEP project is reflected in the company's plan to reorganize its Swedish business operations and lay off 320 personnel in its Örsköldsvik vehicles unit. The first of the cuts are due to take place in the fourth quarter of 2009. The Örsköldsvik unit has 1,000 employees at present. "This redundancy program is a great disappointment for all involved, but it is necessary in view of the announcement. We hope that our government will take a different decision to the FMV, as this would remove the need for any redundancies at this time," said Söderström. The Swedish government has a "wider responsibility" than FMV and needs to consider economic, technical and social arguments in its decision, said Söderström. FMV, Sweden's defense material administration, announced on June 25 that it had placed an order worth $338 million with Finland's Patria Land & Armament to deliver 113 Patria AMV eight-wheel-drive vehicles. That decision is conditional on the Riksdag, Sweden's national parliament, approving the deal. The Riksdag is not expected to vote on the deal until mid-September. The Patria AMVs, and not the SEP, will serve as the Swedish Land Force's new-generation armored wheeled vehicle. The order was placed after a bidding competition by FMV that included the SEP.

DTN News: Patria Wins Swedish Armored Modular Vehicles Contract

DTN News: Patria Wins Swedish Armored Modular Vehicles Contract

*Sources: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) HELSINKI, Finland - June 27, 2009: Finland's Patria Land & Armament (PLA) has secured a $338 million order for 113 Patria eight-wheel-drive AMVs (Armored Modular Vehicles) for delivery to Sweden as part of that country's Land Force's AWV 2014 Project. The decision must be approved by the Swedish government; that is expected in the autumn. The 113 AMVs are due to be delivered between 2011 and 2013. The AMV contract, which was placed by Forsvarets Materielverk (FMV), Sweden's state-controlled defense materials administration, suggests that the Swedish government has no plans to revive the Spitterskyddad Enhets Platform (SEP) modular armored tactical vehicle project, which was discontinued in September. "The SEP project was stopped last autumn because of funding issues, and it is not something we are working with now," said an FMV spokesman. "The Land Forces asked us to look at the market and source a modern armored wheeled vehicle, and this we have done after a competitive bidding process and full testing. This contract is the end result of this competition." BAE Systems Hagglunds' SEP, designed to offer advanced multipurpose protection, was originally planned as the Swedish Land Forces' next-generation modular armored tactical vehicle. The $338 million contract with Patria covers wheeled armored personnel carriers in five different versions, and includes the option for delivery of an additional 113 vehicle systems. The AMVs will be manufactured in Finland, using subcontractors in both Finland and Sweden. The Patria eight-wheel-drive AMV has operational combat experience with Polish and Finnish forces in Afghanistan and Chad. "The benefits for the Swedish economy in the form of offset programs and logistic support activities will also be significant," Patria CEO Heikki Allonen said. "We also value and highly emphasize the aspects of Nordic cooperation in this project, with benefits available to many of us in the defense industry in the Nordic countries." Patria began serial production of the AMV in 2004, and has obtained orders since that date for some 1,200 vehicles from Poland, Slovenia, Finland and Croatia. The Patria AMV is designed to provide high levels of protection, mobility and accessibility. The vehicle has a maximum combat weight of 27 tons with a payload of up to 11 tons. It has a three-man crew and can transport up to 12 personnel.

DTN News: Patria’s AMVs 8x8 Still Causing A Stir In Slovenia

DTN News: Patria’s AMVs 8x8 Still Causing A Stir In Slovenia *Sources: DTN News / Defense Media (NSI News Source Info) LJUBLJANA, Slovenia - June 20, 2009: After nearly two years of going back and forth with the officials, the story of Patria’s AMVs 8x8 seems far from over as allegations of corruption reach Slovenia in what may well be the final chapter of this Slovene-Finnish military saga. Defense Minister Erjavec at Patria’s presentation in january At the end of May 2006 the Slovene Army concluded its testing of two AMV (armoured modular vehicle) 8x8 models. The decision had to be made between the Finnish manufacturer Patria and the domestic Sistemska tehnika. While the latter were absolutely convinced that the job would go to them, it quickly became obvious that not everyone shared their opinion.

At first the Ministry of Defence did not wish to reveal the official results of the tests, which led many to believe that it would favour the domestic producer, yet what followed next surprised everyone. The Ministry refused the offer of the domestic provider and opted for the Finnish Patria, represented by a Slovene company Rotis. The decision was a true shock, nay, a major earthquake that has made Slovene ground shake ever since and has recently witnessed some major aftershocks coming all the way from Finland. On 12th June 2006 the Slovenian Ministry of Defence announced that Patria’s armoured modular vehicle (AMV) had been selected as the preferred vehicle for its armoured vehicle program. The order, negotiated at around EUR 278 million, included 135 8x8 armoured personnel carriers in 4 different versions, including one variant with Patria’s new unmanned NEMO 120mm mortar turret. Ten days later Patria announced the formation of a joint venture company for the Slovenian AMV programme with partners in Slovenia – the Gorenje Group, a household appliance manufacturer and Slovenia’s largest net exporter, and Rotis, a pipe, steel, and machine selling company. The AMVs 8x8 were to replace the old tanks of the Slovene army. The Ravne-based manufacturer Sistemska tehnika, which had already been supplying the army with AMV 6x6 Valuk models, thought their product – an AMV 8x8 Krpan had the unquestionable advantage over the Finnish Patria.

It was supposedly superior in terms of having the technical, economic and logistics edge over the former (not to mention that Valuk and Krpan have 40% of their parts mutually exchangeable, which could mean a significant advantage in the vehicle’s two-decade-long lifespan). Yet the government’s decision went the other way and left Sistemska tehnika livid with rage; the ground has not yet stopped shaking even after nearly two years of going back and forth with the officials. The minister responds The Minister of Defence Karl Erjavec justified the decision by saying that the offer of Rotis (representative of the Finnish Patria) was between 10-18% lower than the offer of Sistemska tehnika. Also the Ministry’s criteria, which included the price range, technical and commercial efficiency, long-term benefits for the Slovene economy in the form of offsets and the participation of the Slovene industry in the purchase of arms, were said to be better met by the Finnish manufacturer than the domestic one. Patria was thus chosen because it offered a lower price and benefits for the Slovene economy, since the whole deal was tied to industrial offsets. Sistemska tehnika, having lost the job for the purchase of AMVs for the Slovene Army, publicly revealed the details of the allegedly disputable offer of their Finnish counterparts, saying that their tender had procedural mistakes.

In the same breath they also talked about the financial and technical characteristics of their product, which supposedly were much better than those of their competition, and expressed their doubts that collaboration with the Finnish Patria would have benefits for the Slovene economy. Sistemska tehnika also questioned whether or not the commission adequately assessed their revised 1,400-page-long offer sent on 29th May 2006, since on that date the commission made its final decision, feeling that their supplemented offer was glossed over, yet their biggest complaint was made against Erjavec’s statement that Patria offered a lower price by some 10-18%. Rekindled doubts In March 2007, 38 delegates from the opposition filed a demand for the start of a parliamentary probe into the purchase of Patria’s AMVs 8x8. The investigation was aimed at discovering the links between the involvement and political responsibility of certain individuals, since there was a hint of corruption and clientelism in the whole deal.

A Patria AMV 8x8 vehicle exhibited by the Slovenian Army at a public display earlier this year.

It was thus not clear whether or not the contract was signed in terms with the actual tender conditions since it was revealed later on that the ministry did not purchase 135 AMVs with all the pertaining equipment but only 110, and it was not clear how the remaining 25 would be equipped and how much that would cost. The commission discovered that there existed indices that the actual offer of the Finnish Patria was actually different from the contract itself, since the offsets were not included in the contract. The Minister of Defence Karl Erjavec was not against the parliamentary commission, saying that all the arms purchases of the Slovene Army since the time directly following the independence should also be revised.

The parliamentary commission could probe into the suspicious arms purchases dating in the years just after the independence, since there are some who are said to be involved in these most recent purchases and the purchases made in the past. The opposition thinks that we are talking about the “arms connections” that were active in the past and have come back to haunt the arms commerce once again. Recent aftershocks The matters do not look as though they would settle down anytime soon. Just last month the Finnish police revealed that it had arrested two people under suspicion that Patria bribed certain officials to gain contracts with Slovenia and Egypt.

Patria categorically denied all charges made against them. Since corruption is a serious offence in both countries, Slovenia will annul the contract if these allegations are proved in court, thereby putting an end to this exhaustive military saga that has been going along for nearly two years. These recent irregularities in the purchase of arms have been very resounding and have re-opened many weapon-laden closets; needless to say, old skeletons re-surfaced with a bang. This recent affair is by far not the only of its kind in Slovenia; the one that is especially unpleasantly ringing in the back of everyone’s minds – “the mother of all affairs” – is the arms commerce that followed the independence and which is still a major stain of that period.

In the early 1990s Slovenia sold a lot of arms to Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which were wrapped in an on-going military conflict with Serbia, yet it was never fully revealed what really went on and what the exact numbers were, both in terms of quantity and the revenue received. There were many initiatives to probe into all this, yet all attempts were shut down and the general public never found out what exactly went on. Hopefully the deal with Patria does not follow suit.