Government approves the procedure for SVK MOD to procure 8x8 and 4x4 vehicles
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- Date: 15.11.2017
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The Slovak Security Council and Government today gave the SVK MOD the go-ahead to the procedure for the procurement of 8x8 and 4x4 land vehicle platforms for the SVK Armed Forces to ensure continuity of their research & development (R&D). The decision was not an approval of any purchase. As for the 8x8 combat armoured vehicles, the preferred choice will be the Slovak-Finnish vehicle platform built on the Patria chassis, whereas the Slovak defence industry's role in its manufacture should be up to 70 per cent of the overall scope of the project. As to the 4x4 armoured vehicles and tactical armoured vehicles, the MOD has proposed developing its own vehicle platform with an option to cooperate with a strategic partner, whereas in this case the share of the domestic defence industry in the project will exceed 80 per cent. Thus both solutions are following through on a deliverable as foreseen in the SVK Government Manifesto Commitments to boost the domestic defence industry. Another advantage is that the State will assume 100-per cent ownership of the vehicles.
On the selected vehicle platforms, Slovak Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš said: “I want to underscore that the final solution is not a “political” one but the best one for the Armed Forces, one that was chosen by specialists based on soldiers' requirements and technical specifications.” He went on to emphasise that, thanks to the domestic defence industry's involvement, up to 150 new jobs should be created. “Both proposed solutions are most effective in terms of the ability to secure the Slovak Republic's self-sufficiency in the field of defence in a time of crisis or war,” added the Minister.
As Chairman of the Commission and Coordinator for Drafting, Assessment and Implementation of the MOD's Strategic Documents / General Secretary of the Service Office (MOD) Ján Hoľko remarked, subject matter specialists compared all relevant vehicle platforms available on the market in search of solutions. “The conclusion is that the Patria armoured vehicle best befits the military technical requirements, whereas the project will be developed as a joint R&D programme with the Government's participation. This makes it possible to adjust the vehicle design to our requirements, whilst concurrently driving the development of a completely new vehicle platform of Slovak manufacture,” he said, adding that in the case of the 4x4 military vehicles the development of our own vehicle platform has turned out to be the best solution.
The overall costs of the 8x8 vehicle procurement programme should not exceed €417 million, with the estimated price of 1 vehicle amounting up to €4 million with VAT. The procurement will be implemented from 2018 through to 2024. In the case of the 4x4 vehicles, the maximum overall costs are set at €782.7 million, with the estimated price of 1 vehicle ranging from €1.2 million to €3.5 million with VAT, depending on each platform variant. The development of the 4x4 vehicles is expected to be completed in 2018 and the vehicles will come into service from 2019 through to 2029. Both vehicle programmes will receive funding from the MOD budget.
On the selected vehicle platforms, Slovak Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš said: “I want to underscore that the final solution is not a “political” one but the best one for the Armed Forces, one that was chosen by specialists based on soldiers' requirements and technical specifications.” He went on to emphasise that, thanks to the domestic defence industry's involvement, up to 150 new jobs should be created. “Both proposed solutions are most effective in terms of the ability to secure the Slovak Republic's self-sufficiency in the field of defence in a time of crisis or war,” added the Minister.
As Chairman of the Commission and Coordinator for Drafting, Assessment and Implementation of the MOD's Strategic Documents / General Secretary of the Service Office (MOD) Ján Hoľko remarked, subject matter specialists compared all relevant vehicle platforms available on the market in search of solutions. “The conclusion is that the Patria armoured vehicle best befits the military technical requirements, whereas the project will be developed as a joint R&D programme with the Government's participation. This makes it possible to adjust the vehicle design to our requirements, whilst concurrently driving the development of a completely new vehicle platform of Slovak manufacture,” he said, adding that in the case of the 4x4 military vehicles the development of our own vehicle platform has turned out to be the best solution.
The overall costs of the 8x8 vehicle procurement programme should not exceed €417 million, with the estimated price of 1 vehicle amounting up to €4 million with VAT. The procurement will be implemented from 2018 through to 2024. In the case of the 4x4 vehicles, the maximum overall costs are set at €782.7 million, with the estimated price of 1 vehicle ranging from €1.2 million to €3.5 million with VAT, depending on each platform variant. The development of the 4x4 vehicles is expected to be completed in 2018 and the vehicles will come into service from 2019 through to 2029. Both vehicle programmes will receive funding from the MOD budget.
