At the International Defence and Security Technologies Fair IDET 2025, which took plane from May 28 to 30 in Brno, Czech Republic, Finnish company Patria Oyj showcased its AMV XP 8×8 wheeled infantry fighting vehicle equipped with the Slovak EVPU TURRA 30 turret.
Photos: Jakub Link-Lenczowski, MILMAG
The showcased vehicle is designated as Vydra in Slovakia and was publicly unveiled for the first time on July 24, 2024.
To recap, on August 30, 2022, an intergovernmental agreement worth 447 million EUR was signed for the delivery of a total of 76 Patria AMV XP 8×8 vehicles by 2027. The order includes the following variants and quantities: 60 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) equipped with the remotely operated EVPU TURRA 30 turret featuring a locally developed 30 mm GTS-30/N automatic cannon by ZTS-Special, 10 ambulances (AMB), and 6 command post vehicles (CP).
The EVPU TURRA 30 is also armed with a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun (with 600 rounds of ammunition) and two launchers for 9M113 Konkurs anti-tank guided missiles (designated AT-5 Spandrel by NATO), developed by the local defense industry. Alternatively, the turret has been offered with the option of integrating a Mk 44 Bushmaster II cannon, an FN Minimi machine gun, and Spike anti-tank guided missiles.
A modernized variant of the turret, the TURRA 30-SA, has also been developed. It features an optronic sighting system, radar, and a fire detection system, enabling the use of electronically programmable ammunition, which enhances its effectiveness against unmanned aerial vehicles. At IDET 2025, another modification of the turret was unveiled — the TURRA 30 V10.
Final assembly of all vehicles is carried out in Slovakia at the KONŠTRUKTA-Defence facilities, thanks to a technology transfer from Patria Land Oyj. As a result, local industry involvement exceeds 43% of the contract value. This was one of the key requirements in the terms of the renewed tender for the Vydra 8×8 vehicles, announced in 2021.
In addition, Patria Land Oyj is implementing a plan to transfer the production of certain vehicle components to Slovakia. The relocation of manufacturing capacity is being handled by the company CSM Industry in Tisovec. To acquire the necessary know-how, the company has already participated in the production of the first vehicles in Finland. Ultimately, the assembly process is expected to involve 40 local Slovak companies.
AMV XP 8×8
The AMV XP (eXtra Payload, eXtra Performance, eXtra Protection), first unveiled in 2013, is a heavier and modernized version of the AMV (XC-360P) armored modular vehicle. The new platform is equipped with a 612 hp Scania DC13 diesel engine with a displacement of 12.7 liters, a ZF Ecolife automatic transmission, and an Ametek 450 kW cooling system. It features larger 16.00R20 wheels with central tire inflation and Hutchinson Run Flat inserts, as well as hydropneumatic suspension with adjustable ground clearance. The vehicle offers an increased payload capacity of up to 15 tonnes and a maximum combat weight of 32 tonnes. The hull structure, suspension mounts, drive shafts, suspension system, and wheel hubs have all been reinforced.
In addition to Slovakia, the Patria AMV XP has also been selected by Japan (which will begin licensed production in September) and, more recently, Slovenia. Previously, the AMV XP was offered—unsuccessfully—to the United Arab Emirates (with a BMP-3 turret) in the extended AMV XP L version, to Australia under the Mounted Combat Reconnaissance Capability Land 400 Phase 2 program (where the Boxer CRV was selected), and to Bulgaria (which opted for the ICV Stryker). It was also offered to Poland as the Rosomak XP for the Serwal program.
On May 8 of this year, the joint venture EuroTrophy GmbH, based in Germany, announced a partnership with Patria Oyj to integrate the Trophy hard-kill active protection system (APS) into the AMV XP 8×8. The first demonstrator vehicle was presented to representatives of selected countries in March this year at the Arctic Event 2025.