WARSAW, Poland — Slovenia’s authorities is delaying an envisioned buy of roughly 100 AMV XP automobiles from Finnish producer Patria throughout its present time period, marking a brand new twist within the nation’s long-running acquisition saga about armored automobiles.
Because of this, regardless of signing a letter of intent with Finland final February, the Cupboard is not going to authorize the procurement of recent eight-wheel-drive rides earlier than the subsequent parliamentary election, anticipated to be held in March 2026.
The Slovenian authorities chosen the AMV XP final 12 months after canceling the earlier Cupboard’s 2022 contract to acquire 45 Boxer automobiles from the Group for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), a multinational military-procurement company.
The deliberate acquisition of Finnish automobiles was to spice up the capabilities of a medium battalion battle group and a medium fight reconnaissance battalion inside Slovenia’s navy.
Slovenian media have reported on varied potential causes for delaying the AMV XP buy that have been proffered by unnamed authorities officers.
These embrace the Cupboard’s requirement for higher drive safety, together with anti-drone measures, and the requirement to contain the home trade within the manufacturing of their turrets.
Nonetheless, some native observers imagine the precise purpose is that the deliberate buy might change into the most important navy procurement within the nation’s historical past, at an estimated €695 million ($811 million), making it unpopular amongst a phase of Slovenian voters.
Matej Tonin, a member of the European Parliament for the opposition New Slovenia occasion and the nation’s former protection minister who signed the Boxer deal, criticized the federal government for the delay. He cited planning projections from the defunct Boxer buy that will have the military outfitted with 35 out of 45 these car by now.
“As a substitute, now we have misplaced three to 4 years, and yearly acquisitions of navy tools change into an increasing number of costly,” Tonin mentioned.
“The demand has grown dramatically over the previous three years, and this has been mixed with a excessive degree of inflation,” he added. “My recommendation to the federal government could be: don’t begin all the pieces from scratch, proceed what was already initiated, and test what is required by the Slovenian navy.”
A spokesperson for the Slovenian Ministry of Protection instructed Protection Information the mission to buy Patria automobiles “is ongoing and has not been halted in any manner,” however technical add-ons would take extra time.
“As a result of adjustments in navy conflicts and fight doctrine on trendy battlefields, which additionally require the usage of drones and anti-drone safety for efficient operation, the Ministry of Defence has determined to improve the 8×8 automobiles with trendy modular capabilities,” the spokesperson mentioned. “It will take a while, however it’s properly value it because of the elevated usability of the automobiles.”
Jaroslaw Adamowski is the Poland correspondent for Protection Information.
