Denmark Receives First Patria 6×6 Armored Personnel Carriers
On September 1, 2025, Denmark took delivery of its first Patria 6×6 armored personnel carriers when two vehicles arrived at Almegårds Barracks on Bornholm. These new six-wheeled APCs were ordered through a European Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) program, which Denmark joined in mid-2025, with a total of 129 vehicles on order. The Danish Accelerationsfonden funded the purchase and broadly strengthens the Army by bolstering both the light infantry battalion and the heavy brigade. Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen at the delivery ceremony stated, “Denmark’s defence is modernised and the soldiers have updated equipment,”.
The Patria 6×6 APC is a Finnish-designed, modular troop carrier built by Patria. It is designed for high mobility and protection in diverse roles. Each vehicle carries two crew members (driver and commander) plus up to ten fully-equipped soldiers in the rear compartment. A 294 kW Scania diesel engine powers all six wheels of the Patria 6×6 and enables it to reach speeds over 100 km/h and achieve an operational range of approximately 700 km. Its amphibious capability allows it to travel approximately 8 km/h in water. The steel hull meets NATO STANAG 4569 Level K2/M2 protection against small arms and mines. Weapons or mission systems can be mounted as needed: available options range from machine guns and 25–30mm cannons to a 120mm Patria Nemo mortar, making the 6×6 adaptable for command, combat support or specialist roles.
According to the Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO), these first two Patria 6×6s will begin training mechanics and crews now, so that Danish forces will be ready when broader deliveries ramp up in 2026. Colonel Thomas Ø. Knudsen of DALO noted that the vehicle production takes place in Finland. He highlighted that the program is a project partnership with allied countries Finland, Sweden, Latvia and Germany, underlining how shared equipment improves supply security and mutual support. In Danish service, the new APCs will serve many functions: besides troop transport, they will be used as mobile command posts, communication nodes, ambulances, and even electronic warfare platforms, according to official statements.
This milestone is a visible step in Denmark’s defense modernization effort. Denmark supports NATO mobility goals and boosts its role in allied missions by adopting the Patria 6×6 standard within the multinational CAVS program. The rapid delivery of these armored personnel carriers is thus both a boost to Danish forces and a sign of deepening Nordic and NATO cooperation on land mobility.