Japan to Launch Licensed Production of Finnish Patria AMV XPs in September

Japan will launch the domestic production of Finnish-made Patria AMV XP 8×8 armored personnel carriers in September 2025 under a licensing agreement with Finland’s Patria Group, the company announced.

The vehicles, intended for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), will be assembled by Japan Steel Works (JSW) using kits and components supplied from Finland. Production will start with the final assembly phase, while preparations are underway to establish local manufacturing capacity and supply chains.

A JSW team recently completed a five-month training program at Patria’s production facility in Finland, where they assembled a prototype vehicle under the Patria technicians’ supervision.

The vehicle passed final inspection and test drives and is now ready for shipment to Japan.

Patria will provide ongoing technical support during the production ramp-up. JSW is also establishing a local subcontractor network, with Patria supporting the transfer of know-how for parts localization.

The new AMV XP vehicles will replace Japan’s existing Type-96 8×8 APCs. The agreement with Patria covers the delivery of several hundred vehicles over the coming years. The first unit was formally presented on January 24, 2025.

In addition to starting assembly of the vehicles, JSW and Patria are exploring expanded cooperation, including the potential production of Patria’s NEMO 120mm turreted mortar system and other variants based on the AMV XP platform. A separate agreement was also signed to develop life-cycle support services for the fleet in Japan.

AMV XP APC

The Patria AMV XP is the latest evolution of the AMV family, offering enhanced mobility, payload, and protection.
It features a modular design that supports various combat roles, including the integration of heavy weapon stations, automatic cannons, and anti-tank systems.

The vehicle has a maximum road speed of over 100 km/h and is amphibious, capable of traveling at up to 10 km/h in water.