Denmark Purchases 129 Patria Armored Personnel Carriers
On 14 July 2025, Denmark formally entered the final phase of the Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) programme by ordering 129 Patria 6×6 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) from Finland. These vehicles (also called XA-300) are to be delivered starting later this year, making Denmark the fifth CAVS participant after Finland, Latvia, Sweden and Germany. Earlier in 2025, Denmark signed the CAVS framework agreements and has now quickly moved into the procurement phase.
In Copenhagen, Danish officials marked the contract signing. Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the new carriers would equip both the Army’s light infantry battalion and heavy brigade, “broadly strengthening” and modernizing the force. Denmark’s Defense Acceleration Fund funds the DKK 1.9 billion (approximately €247 million) deal. The APCs will be delivered in multiple variants, including troop transports, engineer and command vehicles, communications and electronic warfare vehicles, and ambulances to cover a wide range of military roles.
The majority of the order will arrive in 2026 to help rebuild and modernize Denmark’s armed forces. This rapid schedule lets Danish troops get hands-on experience with the new APCs ahead of wider adoption. The Patria 6×6 platform, launched in 2018, is expected to have a service life of over 30 years, meaning these vehicles will form the backbone of Denmark’s armored mobility for decades. Each Patria 6×6 can carry 2–3 crew members plus up to 10 fully equipped troops. It is powered by a Scania DC09 inline five-cylinder diesel engine (294 kW) and has an 8.5-tonne payload. The vehicle can travel approximately 700km on the road at speeds over 100km/h and can swim at roughly 8km/h. The APCs are built in Finland using Danish components to involve local industry.
Denmark joins pooled procurement as a CAVS partner to reduce costs and enhance interoperability among allied armies. Patria’s 6×6 family is already in service with Finnish, Swedish, Latvian, and soon German forces, reflecting a standardized fleet for collective defense. The programme has attracted EU support (via EDIRPA) to strengthen Europe’s defence industry and supply security. Denmark’s defence investment plan allocates roughly DKK 50 billion for 2025–26. The purchase meets Denmark’s urgent need to strengthen its army while fitting its multi-year defence investment strategy.