Minister Naď: The 8x8 Patria AMVXP Programme is on the track to become a long-time success story for the Slovak defence industry

The first in a series of official meetings on how best to involve Slovak defence companies in the delivery of the 8x8 Patria AMVXP Programme for the Slovak Armed Forces took place today at state-owned KONŠTRUKTA Defence JSC in Dubnica nad Váhom, bringing together representatives of Patria and the concerned Slovak businesses.

Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “In order to allow Slovak companies to have real involvement in the entire manufacturing process of the vehicles for the Armed Forces, we insist that a large part of the project must be undertaken by Slovak companies, with 40% of the Total Agreement Price being the minimum necessary requirement for Slovak industrial content. In this respect, Iʼm pleased to announce we are not only going to reach that threshold, but we are even going to exceed it. By doing so, we are going to return significant investments into much-needed equipment for soldiers to our economy.”

On Slovakia-based suppliers in the supply chain, Minister Naď further noted that the Slovak subcontractors' list is not yet closed as the MOD seeks to maximise their role in the project. Given that intense negotiations are ongoing, the MOD expects the contracts to be signed as early as this July.

Minister Naď went on to explain why KONŠTRUKTA - Defence has taken on the role of the prime contractor and is coordinating efforts on the programme, saying: “This comes as a result of our reflection on the government-to-government agreement, since Slovakia wants to exercise clear control over the entire project through a state-owned joint stock company. At the same time, this solution means ensuring the security of deliveries for the Slovak Armed Forces.”

He added that KONŠTRUKTA - Defence will have responsibility for providing programme management and for overseeing cooperation with other Slovak business entities, both the contractors and the subcontractors. This diversification of cooperation will see to it that the benefits of the project will be distributed across the whole of Slovakia. As well as securing a high level of Slovak industrial content, the MOD is also committed to regional reallocation of labour and benefits.

Štefan Škultéty, Director General of state-owned DMD Group JSC, which includes Konštrukta - Defence, ZŤS Špeciál and ZVS Holding as its member companies, stressed that DMD Group brings three important aspects to the project – transparency, experience and security of deliveries. “Weʼll also make good use of our expertise and experience in delivering the Tracked Armoured Fighting Vehicle Programme. To that end, it is very important to bring in highly skilled workforce with added value,” he said.

Aside from programme management, KONŠTRUKTA - Defence will also oversee the production of vehicle assembly parts, including the combat compartment, the full assembly, integration and test (AIT) of the vehicles, final trials, the delivery of vehicles to the Armed Forces, and the provision of maintenance and repair services.

Among the major contractors on the programme are: CSM Industry LTD (chassis production and vehicle body welding), Aliter Technologies JSC (communication systems installation & integration), Winfa LTD (most probably the supplier of armour), EVPÚ JSC (turret and weapon system development, manufacture and integration), ZŤS Špeciál JSC (cannon production and mounting in line with NATO STANAGs), Virtual Reality Media JSC (training simulator design, development and production), and ZVS Holding JSC (munitions production and deliveries). So far, the last company to work on the project's front line is Ray Service JSC, which specialises in electromechanics, control units, electronics, and cable parts.

The ambulance vehicle will be the first variant to be delivered to the Slovak Armed Forces within 8 months from the signing of the G2G agreement and relevant annexes. Deliveries of the first Patria 8x8 AMVXP infantry fighting vehicles will commence approx. within 12 months from the signing of the G2G agreement. As part of Phase 1, the Slovak Armed Forces will take delivery of 76 Patria 8x8 AMVXPs.

The aim is also to get Slovak schools involved in the Patria capability project as part of the specialist training programme in Finland, which offers added value to schools and businesses. The other positive news is that we are in discussions with Patria on its possible support for other good causes in Slovakia, as with Lockheed Martin's sponsorship gifts for the Military Medical Service and the Institute of Military History.

The industrial participation of Slovak companies in the 8x8 AMVXP programme will be a complex one and is on the track to become a long-time success story for the SVK defence industry.