Slovakia Produces Its First Patria 8×8 Armored Vehicle

CSM Industry has successfully completed the licensed production of the first Finnish Patria 8×8 armored personnel carrier for the Slovak Armed Forces.

Company CEO Tomáš Maroš shared the news with Futurearmy.sk, noting that the initial vehicle—an infantry fighting vehicle variant of the Patria 8×8 AMV XP—has rolled off the assembly line at the Tisovec plant. It is now undergoing factory mobility tests as part of the next phase in its deployment.

As soon as all testing is completed, the vehicle will be delivered to Konštrukta – Defence, where it will be equipped with the TURRA 30 remotely operated weapon station, developed by the Slovak company EVPÚ Defence.

Tomáš Maroš explained that full-scale production of the Patria 8×8 AMV XP vehicles (excluding the turret) was ongoing at the CSM Industry plant in Tisovec. The production process covers the entire cycle — from welding the chassis body and manufacturing components such as doors, roof hatches, and other parts, to painting and complete assembly of the vehicle.

To secure the contract for the licensed production of the Finnish vehicles, the company invested several million euros in upgrading its production facilities, including the construction of specialized testing areas — such as a pool for vehicle water trials and a dedicated slope for testing the braking system.

Slovakia signed an agreement in 2022 to purchase 76 Patria 8×8 AMV XP eight-wheeled vehicles from the Finnish company Patria. The deal includes deliveries through 2027 and calls for significant involvement of the Slovak defense industry in the production process.

According to the contract, 10 of the vehicles will be delivered in a medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) configuration, six as command vehicles, and 60 in the infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) variant.

The combat version of Patria 8×8 has a crew of three and can carry an additional 8 to 12 passengers. Powered by a Scania diesel engine, it can reach speeds of over 100 km/h on roads.

Part of the order is also being fulfilled through Finnish production facilities. In 2023, the first MEDEVAC armored personnel carrier arrived in Slovakia.

“The first ambulances, produced in Finland using components already being supplied by CSM in Slovakia, have now been delivered. These vehicles are currently undergoing military testing with the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic,” said Tomáš Maroš.

The new wheeled combat vehicles are intended to serve as a high-quality replacement for the Soviet-era BMP-1 and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, of which 109 units are currently in service with the country’s ground forces.

They will also complement Swedish CV90 Mk.4 infantry fighting vehicles, equipped with a 35 mm Bushmaster III cannon, of which Slovakia has ordered 152 units.