Finland Offers New 4×4 Armour Option

In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the security situation in Europe changed dramatically. For Finland it was clear that these new circumstances made it essential that they join a collective securityorganisation to further enhance their defence capabilities. As a result, they applied to join NATO on 18 May 2022. Sweden reacted to the changing European security situation in the same way and also applied to join NATO on the same date. Finland would become a full member of NATO on 4 April 2023,while Sweden would gain membership on 7 March 2024.

The new security situation and NATO membership would lead both Finland and Sweden to enhance their defences, subsequently both of them would look, where possible, to collaborate and coordinate their defence procurement efforts. In consequence this would mean that not only would domestic defence markets grow in tandem with new requirements, but joint procurement requirements by Finland and Sweden would further grow the available market. There was already a basis for collaboration via the Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO) grouping of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden established back in 2009. As a part of this the Joint Nordic Defence Industry Cooperation Group (JNDICG) was formed so that defence industry associations could cooperate for mutual benefit. In the current defence environment serious defence procurement cooperation between the Nordic countries is becoming an increasing reality, opening the way to further joint procurement in indigenous Nordic systems.

Opportunity

All of this means that national defence markets in the Nordic countries have not only grown, but now there is the opportunity to address a broader multinational Nordic defence market. Into this environment steps a new defence player in the shape of a Finnish company SCATA, based in Jakobstad in the Ostrobothnian region. Location is important here as the region contains many engineering and metalworking enterprises, these will provide a supply chain to SCATA and also offer the potential to significantly increase vehicle production capabilities as required.

There is a background in specialist vehicles within SCATA, the foundational idea behind the company is to meet what they saw as a requirement to fill the gap in the Finnish Army (Maavoimat) armoured/protected vehicle fleet. The Maavoimat has the Sisu GTP at the low end of this vehicle spectrum, this 4×4 vehicle has a gross vehicle weight of 16,500 kg and a payload of up to 5,000 kg, protection level is to NATO STANAG 4569. There are three variants of the vehicle available and the Maavoimat was the launch customer, more recently in 2025 a joint order was placed by Finland and Sweden for up to 300 GTP vehicles split between both countries.

Above the GTP in the Maavoimat armoured vehicle fleet came the Pasi in the XA-180 and XA-185 variants, this 6×6 vehicle was procured in large numbers by Finland with substantially more than 400 acquired from 1983 onwards. An effective wheeled APC reflecting the operational requirements of that era, it is in the 18-ton weight category and apart from Finland it was exported to the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, with more recent operators being Estonia and Ukraine.

The opportunity that SCATA saw was for a vehicle that would fit between the GTP and the Pasi, this led them work with Maavoimat to define a requirement and then work on a design for a new 18-ton class 4×4 armoured vehicle. The next challenge to be surmounted was the question of a mobility platform for the new vehicle, in principle it could have been designed in Finland, but this would have increased risk, time and cost.

The solution to the mobility issue was found at SecD-Day, a defence conference and exhibition held in Helsinki at the end of January. Amongst the exhibitors was the French company Texelis, they had provided the axles for the Sisu GTP, they had also worked on significant international armoured vehicle programmes.

For example, they provided Yugoimport SDPR in Serbia with T700 axles for the Milosh 4×4 Multirole Tactical Vehicle (combat weight 14 tonnes), T750 axles on the larger Miloš 2 4×4 Multirole Tactical Vehicle (combat weight 18 tonnes), while Texelis T900 axles and other systems are used on the Lazar 3/3M 8×8 vehicles. It was in France that Texelis would win its most important defence programme, providing the mobility platform for the Véhicule Blindé Multi-Rôle Léger (VBMR-L) Serval 4×4 armoured vehicle programme. Serval is in service and on order for the French Army in large numbers, it has also been ordered by Belgium, Croatia and Luxembourg, with Ireland also said to be interested in an acquisition.

Texelis then went on to develop Celeris, a turnkey modular armoured vehicle mobility platform applicable to 4×4, 6×6 and 8×8 vehicles, featuring a Cummins diesel engine and an Allison transmission. Because the Celeris system has been optimised for the military marketplace, it is designed for a service life of 30 years or more in a military environment. This is particularly important as there are some manufacturers who have attempted to base their vehicle solutions on commercial vehicle and truck platforms, with less than impressive results. Thus far the Celeris system has been selected for programmes in Canada and Indonesia with interest from other international customers.

The people from SCATA visited the SecD-Day conference and exhibition, they met Texelis and found themselves with the solution to their mobility platform needs with the Celeris system. This enabled the programme to move forward at pace, with the first two SCATA MK1 prototype vehicles being available rapidly. According to SCATA a testing programme continues with Maavoimat assistance with one prototype, while the second SCATA MK1vehicle will be on display at the Eurosatory exhibition in Paris in June.

Options

Initially the SCATA vehicle will be offered with Cummins diesel, but a hybrid -powered option could also be available, this is an area that Texelis also have expertise in. As a modular system the SCATA MK1 can be offered in a number of different variants: these include an APC, an armoured ambulance, a flatbed version with the capability to carry a 10-foot container, a version for Special Forces and a Light Air Defence variant that could be equipped with the Saab MSHORAD system and RBS70NG or a gun system according to operational taste. The modularity of the SCATA MK1 system also means that the vehicle protection level can be geared to meet differing operational requirements.

The SCATA vehicle is already attracting interest within the Nordic region, but also in broader international markets. The starting point for SCATA sales is likely to be the Maavoimat, then Sweden is seen as a strong potential market. Norwegian requirements are also of interest, but to progress that opportunity a Norwegian partner will be required, with the emphasis on after-sales support and long-term maintenance. According to SCATA they have also held talks about the vehicle with a broad range of potential international customers. While they were not willing to be more specific on these international customers, they did suggest that these customers could be drawn from North Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The company is also prepared to support local production of the vehicle if requested by the customer.

Initially though the objective is to have SCATA MK1 production in Finland, with first deliveries being possible at the end of 2026. Initial production could reach between six and 12 vehicles per month. After that point SCATA believe that they will be able to significantly increase production in 2027, with figures of between 150 and 200 vehicles per annum being reached.

SCATA are only at the beginning of their defence industrial journey, but they have an extremely viable armoured vehicle proposition to put to potential users. Add to that the fact they are in a position to offer deliveries in 2026 and mass deliveries in 2027, this becomes a very interesting proposition indeed. The 4×4 armoured vehicle sector is highly competitive at this point in time, but if SCATA can get a launch order in the nearterm then it should be on course for significant success in the Nordic region and beyond.

David Saw

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