2#2010

Case #18Information systems for all branches of defence

Case #216

Top pilots undergo multi-phase training

2 Patria

12#2010

Malmi Airport, 3 May 2010

25°01’16’’ E, 60°14’52’’ N

After a transfer fl ight from the factory in Duluth,

Minnesota, OH-GSC waits

for fl ight training service

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Patria 3

A Moment

4 Patria

IDEX exhibition, Abu Dhabi

20.–24.2.2011

>The International Defence Exhibition and Conferen-

ce, or IDEX, is the largest trade fair for the defence

and security industry in the Middle East and North

Africa. Patria showcases its products at fair stand

A33 Hall 6.

For more information on this mega-event, now being

organised already for the tenth time:

http://www.idexuae.ae/

Events >

>This prestigious aviation training event

is attended by all professionals and top

speakers in the fi eld. In addition to net-

working opportunities, the conference

off ers valuable information on aviation

training.

For more information:

www.militaryfl ighttraining.com

Military Flight Training, London, UK

8.–10.2.2011

Hawk Users’ Conference , San Diego, CA, USA

31.1.–3.2.2011

>Convention for Hawk user countries,

hosted by BAE Systems, where

the Finnish Air Force and Patria

demonstrate the glass cockpit

upgrade for the Hawk Mk. 51.

photo The Finnish Defence Forces

Patria 5

Editorial >

7”The many sides of Patria.”

”Globally, we are seeing purchases where systems account for up to 80%.”

Jukka Holkeri, Chief Marketing Offi cer, Patria

Contents

Patria. Patria Group’s Corporate Magazine. Raili Saarinen, Editor in Chief, raili.saarinen@patria.fi . Editing and layout Otavamedia Oy/Viestintätoimisto Sanakunta

Print: Newprint Paper: cover 200g Galerie Art Silk, inside pages 130g Galerie Art Silk. Feedback, requests for information and subscriptions: info@patria.fi .

Cover photography: Matti Immonen

Case > 8

Situation >

Liutenant Colonel Jari Mikkonen

Case > 16

A pilot’s trail.

A Classic > Opinion > In Brief >

26 2724 2522 23

20 21

18 19

16 17

14 15

12 13

10 11

8 9

Production Manager Kari Örterberg

‘It is in the interest of small countries for the authorities to know one another and be able to utilise each other’s resources.’

VP of Business Development Simo Mäkipaja

‘The ash-cloud event demonstrated that we have a pretty good warning system at our disposal.’

6 Patria

was the fi rst aircraft designed and manufactured in Finland.

Did you know… >

The aircraft, designed by engineer K.W. Berger, was built

in 1924 at the Air Force Aircraft Factory in Suomenlinna.

On 16 April 1924, pilot Georg Jäderholm took the aeroplane

on its maiden fl ight. Only one unit was manufactured.

6

photo Patria

Kurt Volmar Berger (1989–1977), origi-nally trained as an aviation engineer, was

the chief constructor at the state aircraft factory.

In 1918, he attended amphibian fl ight training in Libau, Germany as an Air Force fl ying cadet, but

the training was discontinued after Germany lost the First World War.

In 1919–1922, Berger studied to become an aviation engineer at East London College. After completing his studies, he was appointed engineer to the Finnish Air Force Headquarters in Santa-hamina, and in 1924 he became the chief constructor.

In addition to the I.V.L C.24

fi ghter aircraft, Berger designed, for example, the Haukka I and II, Sääski, and Kotka aircraft.

In addition to designing his own aircraft, in the 1920s and 1930s Berger participated in the Air Force’s fi ghter purchases in, for example, Czechoslovakia, Great Britain, Italy, and France.

In 1933, Berger was dismissed from his duties at the state aircraft

factory as part of a reorganisation. He continued in aviation as the aircraft inspector at Airport I and Flight Regiment 2, overseeing, for example, the assembly of Brews-ters in Sweden after the Winter War. He also worked as a mainte-nance manager; as a resident engi-neer at the Air Force Headquarters; and, after the wars, as a private en-trepreneur.

Kurt Berger

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C.24 facts Structure: Wooden frame structure, high wing single-seat fi ghter, 1 pc.Constructor: Air Force Aircraft Factory, Suomenlinna Main designer : K.V. Berger, engineer

Dimensions:wingspan: 12,1 and 10,8 mlength: 7,14 mheight: 2,93 mwing area: 19,0 m2

empty weight: 659 kggross weight: 870 kgwing load: 44,7 kg/m2

power loading: 5,3 kg/hp

Attainment values: speed of over 200 km/h

Engine: Siemens-Halske Sh 3 A high-compression, high-altitude 11-cylinder engine, 160160 hp, birotative (with cylinders and crankshaft rotating in opposite directions). Weight of engine: 192 kg.

Single seat

High wing

Designed to

be a fi ghter planeC.24

Patria 7

7

Editorial >

The fi rst cover of Patria’s revamped corporate

magazine portrayed a Patria AMV and a Hor-

net fi ghter jet. These, in all probability, are the

best-known products associated with Patria

as a company: the XA and AMV vehicle series,

extremely successful in the global market,

and the Hornet maintenance and upgrade

projects for the Finnish Air Force. We are also

well-known for the NH90 helicopter assem-

bly work performed for Finland and Sweden,

the composite parts manufactured for Airbus,

and the Nemo and AMOS mortar systems. But

Patria is so much more.

Fourteen years ago – in 1996 – the deci-

sion was made to unite all Finnish aviation and

defence-industry key players under one name.

The Patria Group was born. At that time, we

amused ourselves with the idea of adding up

the dozens of business ideas the company

then had. We quickly realised that we would

not reach the number-one position globally

with every single idea. We were not likely to

reach even number two. Consequently, we

have in the past years steered Patria in the

direction from which we can best serve our

customers and reach a top position.

In 2010, the focus of Patria’s key busi-

ness operations is on supporting Finnish

and Northern European defence forces and

the authorities in charge of civilian security,

armoured wheeled vehicles, and mortar sys-

tems. We are the leading life-cycle support

THE MANY SIDES OF PATRIA

partner to the Finnish Army and Air Force,

and we are the Nordic leader in military and

public-authority helicopter servicing. Our

system and software business continues to

grow, and in network-centric defence appli-

cations, the scale of our operations is the

largest in Finland. We also have solid exper-

tise in the design and manufacture of com-

posite aircraft structures.

In these lines of business, success is

based on extensive and in-depth techni-

cal know-how coupled with effi cient project

management. Our customers rely on us. In

order to remain competitive, a company of

Patria’s size needs agility and a continu-

ous fl ow of new insight. It is crucial for us to

choose the areas where we are competi-

tive, select the right partners to work with,

and continue to develop our skills. At the

same time, we need to have a vision that is

broad enough to enable us, in co-operation

with our partners, to off er comprehensive

service as a one-stop shop.

These are the fundamentals from which

we develop Patria for the future, taking

both tiny steps and large strides. We build

on a solid foundation. Every day.

Jukka HolkeriChief Marketing Offi cer, Patria

photo Seppo Saarentola

In order to remain competitive, Patria needs agility and a continuous fl ow of new insight.

Case >Vesa Tompuri / photos Matti Vuohelainen, Patria and The Finnish Defence Forces

8 Patria

9

Situational awarenessWIDELY KNOWN AS A MAJOR

supplier for the Finnish Defence Forces, Patria, is also a strong player for situational

awareness systems. This expertise, utilised in applications for military technology as well

as civilian security, is in high demand both in Finland and internationally.

10 Patria

our years ago, Patria’s systems, software, and electronics know-how was clustered into a single business unit. According to Simo Mäkipaja, VP of Patria’s systems busi-ness development, the change stemmed

from general trends in the industry, where systems have for quite some time now accounted for a rapidly growing share of all procurement.

‘In aircraft procurement, for example, systems account for close to half of all purchases. And if we talk about un-manned aircraft procurement globally, we’ve seen pur-chases where systems account for up to 80%,’ explains Mäkipaja.

In addition to the Finnish Air Force, Patria delivers sys-tems also for the needs of the Army and Navy. According to Kari Äyrämö, head of the C4ISTAR unit, command and control system deliveries form major part of the workload.

Sensor technology expertise, on the other hand, is one of the most in-demand areas within Patria and can be applied in all branches of defence.

‘The in-depth understanding of sensor tech-nology that is required, for example, by radar and electronic warfare systems is a direct result of long-term development work performed by Patria and its predecessors. One outcome of this development work is the radar signal intelligence

receiver, which, with its internationally recognised top-of-the-class performance, looks set to become a promising export product,’ says Äyrämö.

SITUATIONAL AWARENESS CREATING CONNECTIONS

The Finnish Defence Forces are clearly Patria’s largest cus-tomer, but there is great demand for similar systems know-how within other state institutions. The Border Guard, for example, and the maritime, rescue, and police authorities all require information systems that maximise situational awareness.

KARI ÄYRÄMÖVP, C4ISTAR unit.

In aircraft procurement, for example, systems account for up to 80% of all purchases

F

‘Here we are dealing with command and control systems with a need for heightened situational awareness. In other words, users must at all times be aware of whom they are working with and what will happen next. Naturally, civilian applications differ from military ones also in terms of their information technology. For example, being prepared for intentional jamming and eliminating its harmful effects is not as important as it is in military applications,’ Mäkipaja clarifies.

From the standpoint of ensuring situ-ational awareness, systems developed by Patria are clearly way ahead of the systems developed solely for civilian applications. According to Äyrämö, the old adage that improved versions of mil-itary technology will move over to civil-ian applications no longer always holds.

‘The civilian software market is so enormous that we are often at the receiv-ing end in technological developments,’ he admits.

Nevertheless, Patria’s international reputation as a systems expert is well-founded. According to Mäkipaja, cus-tomers’ confidence in Patria can be clearly seen in the instances where Pa-tria has been chosen to run projects with high-complexity and with leading inter-national suppliers.

‘At the same time, we also imple-ment quite a few tailored solutions us-ing systems acquired for Finland from elsewhere. This is done in cases where the system acquired is extensive. One example might be the national features of the new mid-range surveillance radars that the Air Force recently acquired from France. Integration with our domestic infrastructure requires in-depth system

In the past four years, the turnover of the company’s systems business has doubledunderstanding similar to that required

in the development and delivery of our own systems,’ he sums up.

SYSTEMS FOR ALL FIELDS OF DEFENCE

Typically, system projects take from one to three years. They are implemented by the teams in Tampere, Halli, and Espoo, which currently employ approximately 300 Patria employees, and fluctuating numbers of subcontractor staff.

‘We have outsourced the most routine parts of our projects. System architecture and other core areas remain in-house, and that will continue,’ outlines Mäki-paja. The number of employees who participate in system projects has risen steadily with Patria’s turnover, and in the past four years, the turnover of the company’s systems business has, in fact, doubled.

Of these fields of competence, recon-naissance, surveillance, and command and control systems and electronic war-fare systems serve all branches of the defence forces.

Patria 11

SIMO MÄKIPAJAVP, Business Development

12 Patria

Patria’s systems expertise has been expanded also through the acquisition of other businesses. In 2007, for example, Patria acquired those of Tekla’s operations that specialise in reconnaissance, surveillance, fi re control systems, and com-mand and control systems. This acquisition strengthened Patria’s leading position as the domestic system provider for the Finnish Defence Forces.

ARIS off ers world-class performance in broadband radar signal detection and analysis, head-to-head with the latest radars.

PATRIA DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED the integration of an updated cockpit system for the Finnish Air Force’s Hawk aircraft.

Partnership with other players is a key factor in the implementa-tion of this policy. On a broader scale, the same principle applies to international projects in which Patria takes part, whether as main system s upplier or subcontractor.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT ALSO FOR INTERNATIONAL MARKETS

The intensifying internationalisa-tion of defence and security mar-kets requires the Finnish defence industry to become international, too. With its active and innova-tive product development, Patria has been one of the trailblazers. Through considerable product de-velopment eff ort targeting areas with international prospects, ex-cellent export opportunities have been created for high-technology

Patria 13

ARIS has been planned from the get-go for networked use, allowing one operator to use several ARIS systems simulta-neously. The system can also be easily integrated with older, existing systems, and its signal processing features are quick to tailor. This allows for ELINT systems’ performance and intelligence to be updated to meet modern requirements.

In system projects aimed at improving situational aware-ness, it is essential to be able to combine subsystems, based on various technologies, into a seamlessly operating entity. In this sector, one of Patria’s strengths is the LEAN networking platform, developed with Patria’s own funding. LEAN (Light-weight Environment for Adaptive Networks) is a communica-tions platform for various kinds of networked environments, off ering a shared software interface for user applications. Information is available to the parties who need it and have permission to access it, via the best communication mecha-nisms currently available. User applications can include, for example, software programs that communicate with each other in a computer or a vehicle, computing centres that have been distributed across the country, and network manage-ment applications that monitor network status.

solutions. Patria’s latest project to attract international interest is the ARIS system, or Advanced Real-Time Intelligence System, for ra-dar signal intelligence (electronic intelligence, ELINT). The fi rst ARIS serial delivery agreement was concluded in the summer of 2010. ARIS successfully combines the fl exibility and performance of commercial technologies used in civilian applications with Patria’s robust knowledge of defence sys-tems. Also, ARIS can off er world-class performance in broadband radar signal detection and analy-sis, head-to-head with the latest radars.

Because the defence forces of several countries are struggling with shrinking defence budgets and increasing operating costs,

Because the defence forces of several countries are struggling with increasing operating costs, ARIS has been planned from the get-go for networked use.

14 Patria

Situation >The Operations division of the Finnish Air Force Headquarters

Jari MikkonenLieutenant Colonel

I n mid-April, the subglacial volcanic eruption in Eyjafj allajökull, Iceland, brought almost all European air traffi c to a standstill. The ash clouds spewed by

the eruption tested the authorities’ readiness for co-operation also in Finland. The situation was, however, responded to promptly.

‘The Air Force played a key role, but also the civilian authorities reacted quickly. Our operations proved that the Strategy for Se-curing the Functions Vital to Society , includ-ing its operations implementation, works well.’ Lieutenant Colonel Jari Mikkonen from the operations division of the Finnish Air Force Headquarters explains that it is in the interest of small countries for the authorities to know one another and be able to utilise each other’s resources.

Kari Österberg, who holds the title Head of Production for the Finnish Meteorologi-cal Institute’s Aviation and Military Weather Service, agrees on the success of the co-op-eration: ‘The ash-cloud event demonstrated

A key factor in these decisions was the potential for damage to aircraft engines from the ash.

ICELAND’S VULCANIC ERUPTION

Authorities put to the test by ash-cloud chaos

that we have a pretty good warning system at our disposal.’

PATRIA’S INVESTIGATIONS OF ASH-CLOUD FINDINGS

Building awareness of the risks related to the ash cloud and deciding on the steps that must be taken was a joint eff ort of several authorities. The Finnish Meteorological Institute was in-formed of the volcanic eruption by the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in Great Britain, responsible for distributing ash-cloud forecasts in Western Europe.

‘We then sent out a SIGMET warning to in-form aviators of ash in the airspace of Northern Finland. We use the same method to give warn-ings of strong thunderstorms, for example,’ ex-plains Österberg.

On the same day, a Finnish Air Force air-craft was completing a normal training fl ight in Northern Lapland and was able to confi rm the ash status after the fl ight. The severity of the

The Finnish Meteorological Institute’s Aviation and Military Weather Service

Kari ÖsterbergProduction Manager

The ash from the volcanic eruption in Iceland spread across Europe

Tomi Kangasniemi photos The Finnish Air Force, Piritta Särmä, Mikko Vahaniitty and Shutterstock Illustrations The Finnish Air Force, Linda Halenius

Patria 15

15

ash cloud was further verified with air sampling flights, using Hawk aircraft equipped with air sample containers.

The Finnish Air Force made a deci-sion to restrict its training flights, and the Finnish Transport Safety Agen-cy, TraFi, made the final decision to close Finnish airspace to civilian traffic. A key factor in these decisions was the potential for damage to air-craft engines from the ash.

‘In co-operation with Patria, the Air Force’s aircraft were inspected for any damage. There were ash find-ings in the aircraft, and some engines were removed and sent to Patria’s facilities at Linnavuori for analysis,’ explains Mikkonen.

The same was done with Hawk air-craft. Findings confirmed the impact of the ash.

According to Mikkonen, the ob-servations made during the Air Force flights and the ash findings analysed

by Patria turned out to be highly sig-nificant.

‘Our results have attracted great interest from around the world. For example, they have been utilised in studies conducted in Switzerland,’ he says.

NO LINK TO CLIMATE CHANGE

The results of the ash-cloud-related chaos are well known: approximately 100,000 flights had to be cancelled in European airspace in the following 10 days. The chaos also resulted in more precise operation procedures for the authorities, touching on, for example, flight bans.

But do volcanic eruptions have potential to threaten air traffic again? According to Österberg, this is difficult

to assess. There are several active volcanoes in Iceland, and Katla, next to Eyjafjöll, for example, has erupted fairly regularly. There are active vol-canoes also in Sicily and Alaska. However, Öster-berg says that the ash cloud from Iceland was exceptional on account of its position in a high-traffic area. Moreover, when ash erupts through a glacier, it becomes very fine-grained, allowing it to remain in the airspace for a considerable time and also spread to a large area.

According to Österberg, there is no link be-tween volcanic eruptions and climate change, or the increase in various meteorological phe-nomena.

‘There could be some increase in high-impact meteorological phenomena, but these are, in any case, subject to significant annual varia-tion. From information for 1–2 years, meteorolo-gists are not likely to make assumptions yet on changes in trends,’ he says.

HAWK ENGINES

were sent to Patria’s facilities at Linnavuori for analysis

AIR SAMPLING FLIGHTS confirmed the impact of the ash

Case >Anne Repo photos Matti Immonen and Anna Koivisto

16 Patria

Patria 17

17

AFTER A CAREFUL applicant selection process,

top pilots undergo multi-phase training via a

programme where safety issues are always prominently

featured. Demand for flight training extends beyond the

borders of Finland.

Masters of the skies

18 Patria

”Finland has a long tradition of pilot training. Kau-hava, for example, is home to one of the world’s oldest flight training organi-sations.”

Force pilot training, combined with training provided by Patria, produces top-of-the-class pilots, even by interna-tional standards.

How has this been achieved, and why, of all places, in Finland?

Tuure Hakavuori, Patria’s VP for Aviation Marketing and Sales, estimates that one reason behind the excellent results is the sound selection process coupled with the quality of the training. The applicants accepted are young people who could easily find also other places to study. They are strongly motivated to complete their training.

It is also worth remembering that Finland has a long tradition of pilot training. Kauhava, for example, is home to one of the world’s oldest flight training organisations. The Finnish Air Force has always been self-sufficient in meeting its pilot training needs.

FROM PILOT TO MASTER OF MILITARY SCIENCE

‘Our high-quality training is based on a thoroughly thought-out theoretical component with academic studies, which are then combined with practical exercises, with special attention paid to safety,’ explains Executive Vice President Jari Karjanlahti, in charge of pilot training in Patria.

The theoretical studies lead to a bachelor’s or a mas-ter’s degree, which is rare in Europe in this industry. Those graduating to be fighter pilots can pursue their academic studies partly at the National Defence Univer-sity, in Santahamina, and partly at the Air Force Academy, in Tikkakoski.

Practical exercises in the form of Vinka flight train-

adet Tero Janhunen, 21, knows what he wants. He wants to be a pilot.

‘It’s a great feeling, soaring into the skies in control of the aircraft,’ Janhunen says, describ-ing his Vinka pilot training at the Air Force Academy in Tikkakoski.

Janhunen is one of 22 cadet school students, selected from among pilot reserve officer training graduates.

So far, he has passed two selection rounds: in addition to a fitness test, he had to pass two-day psychologi-cal testing and a medical examina-tion. Qualifications required of a pilot include good eyesight, the ability to withstand pressure, good co-ordina-tion skills, and ability to perceive and handle several events simultaneously.

For Janhunen, who spent his child-hood years in Kauhava, the choice of career was self-evident, as his father, uncle, and grandfather were all career pilots. Already as a small boy, Tero had his first taste of flying, while sit-ting in the arms of his father.

TOP PILOTS OF INTERNATIONAL CALIBRE

The selection process is immensely strict right from the start: each year, 600–700 young candidates apply for pilot reserve officer training, with approximately 50 being selected. Roughly 20 continue to the cadet school’s pilot training, and the major-ity of them complete their education.

The cadets’ progress and learning is monitored such that every flight, carefully prepared with the teacher, is also analysed together, and a report is drawn up.

The expertly constructed structure of the training guarantees that Air

C

FOR JANHUNEN, WHO SPENT HIS CHILDHOOD YEARS IN KAUHAVA, the choice

of career was self-evident, as his father, uncle, and grandfather were all

career pilots.

”Our target is that all students boldly report the mistakes they have made during flights: this is how they can learn and make sure mistakes are not repeated. ”

Patria 19

ing are carried out at Tikkakoski, followed by training with Hawk jet training aircraft at Kauhava. Teach-ing staff come from both Patria and the Air Force. Patria is in charge of the simulator training in Kauhava. Since training flights raise training costs, simulator training increases cost-efficiency.

All Patria flight instructors have a military flight instructor background. Karjanlahti himself has more than 30 years of flying experience, and he was involved in designing and implement-ing Patria’s Vinka training from the very start, in 2004.

The training puts great emphasis on aviation safety. In fact, the Air Force has succeeded in making safety an integral part of everyday operations. According to Karjanlahti, a key factor of successful training is building trust between instructors and students.

‘We want to ensure that the thresh-

old for reporting incidents is as low as possible. No-one is reprimanded if something goes wrong during training flights,’ says Karjanlahti.

If, for example, a student reports that he forgot to lower the flaps during a touch-and-go landing, the instructor will debrief him on the situation with a follow-up question, such as ‘at what point did you notice this, and what were your actions then?’

Karjanlahti says: ‘Our target is that all students boldly report the mistakes they have made during flights: this is how they can learn and make sure mistakes are not re-peated.’ In this way, students can also learn from each other’s mistakes. Karjanlahti explains that the instructors also continuously monitor the students’ skills in assessing their own conduct.

The Finnish Air Force has been satisfied with the qual-ity of the training, which has, in fact, gained a reputation even far afield. Flight training pedagogues have even been asked to present the Air Force’s incident reporting system to experts in social and health care training.

CIVILIAN PILOTS FOR THE WORLD

Patria trains civilian pilots at the Helsinki–Malmi airport. In its 10 years of operation, pilots who have graduated

SINCE TRAINING FLIGHTS raise training costs, simulator

training increases cost-efficiency.

OUR HIGH-QUALITY TRAINING is based on a thoroughly thought-

out theoretical component with academic studies, which are then

combined with practical exercises, with special attention paid to

safety,’ explains Executive Vice President Jari Karjanlahti, in charge

of pilot training in Patria.

20 Patria

Civilian piloting students also need to pass strict tests.

from the Malmi training unit have gained employment by both domestic and European airlines. The training facility has been granted a permit to provide integrated professional pilot training, which in Europe is still a rare accomplishment. This allows students to reach the level that airlines require from new first officers.

Civilian piloting students also need to pass strict tests. Applicants undergo personal-ity and aptitude tests, take part in simulated flights that test their co-ordination skills and ability to withstand pressure, and undergo a thorough medi-cal examination before being accepted as students.

Patria also offers special and further training to pilots who already have professional qual-ifications.

Last year, Patria began train-ing the students from UCA – i.e., the St Petersburg State University of Civil Aviation. UCA is an important player in Russian aviation. The univer-sity has more than a thousand students, who graduate to be-come pilots, air traffic control-lers, or aviation lawyers, for ex-ample, or take up commercial or management tasks.

‘During the first year, we trained 12 students. This year, the number rose to more than 20. Patria is the only training institution from outside Russia that has been approved to provide basic training to Russian students,’ says Hakavuori.

KAUHAVA’S NORDIC PILOT TRAINING CENTRE

Patria and the Air Force have been co-operating in Kauhava for five years now. In 2004, the Air Force decided to outsource its Vinka flight training and con-centrate on Hornet operations, which take priority. In the intervening years, more and more responsibility has been transferred to Patria.

‘Training activities gain momentum from the fact that at Patria, flight training and maintenance opera-tions support one another. Vinkas have been man-ufactured by Patria, so the technical details of this aircraft type are very familiar to us. The assembly of Hawks, Hornets, and the new transport helicopters is also performed by Finnish hands. Patria is interested in providing flight training or related support services for these aircraft as well,’ says Hakavuori.

Patria is in the process of expanding its pilot train-ing offering. Plans include an international military flight training centre based in Kauhava, the Nordic Pilot Training Centre (NTPC) developed in co-op-eration with the Finnish Air Force and the Finnish Ministry of Defence. In line with the Advanced Eu-ropean Jet Pilot Training (AEJPT) concept, Patria has proposed that Kauhava could be its base in the North, operating alongside the NTPC.

With ample open airspace – unavailable in Central Europe – Kauhava is an excellent choice for location. At the moment, Patria is modernising the Hawk jet training fighters and simulators, and after this work is complete, training equipment will meet the re-quirements of modern fighter jet operations.

Patria 21

Military pilot selection and Air Force fl ight offi cer training:

EVERY YEAR, between 600 and 700 young people apply for the

aviation reserve offi cer course at Tikkakoski Air Force Academy;

approximately 50 are selected. Conscript service takes one year.

Pilot training, including theory, takes more than half of this time.

The tasks required in normal conscript service are also completed.

THEN, 20 TO 22 APPLICANTS are selected for the fl ight offi cer

training at the National Defence University. They are divided into pilots

for the Air Force, the Army, and the Finnish Border Guard. The bachelor’s

degree phase of cadet training takes almost three years. Initially, studies

consist of general offi cer’s training in Santahamina and Tikkakoski,

where further training fl ights with Vinkas are also on the syllabus. In

the fi nal year of the course, students move to the Training Air Wing

in Kauhava, where the focus is on Hawk jet fi ghter training.

AFTER GRADUATION, STUDENTS COMPLETE A YEAR of

further tactical Hawk training in Kauhava. Next, they transfer to

Tampere, Kuopio, or Rovaniemi Air Command for Hornet training.

AFTER A FEW YEARS OF EMPLOYMENT WITH AIR COMMAND,

students can opt to pursue a Master of Military Science degree,

which takes approximately two years to complete.

ACADEMIC STUDIES CAN BE CONTINUED all the way to a Ph.D.

in military science.

[ 1.]

[ 2.]

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22 Patria

A Classic >Päivi Brink/photos Patria

>1984

XA-vehicle, a.k.a. Pasi, well-known from the fi eld

The XA-180 6x6 personnel carrier was fi rst brought before the ad-

miring eyes of the general public in 1985, at the Kuljetus-Transport fair in Helsinki. The fi rst prototype of the vehicle was completed in 1981, after a bidding competition opened by the Finnish Defence Forces to Finnish manufacturers. The De-fence Forces requirements speci-fi ed an amphibious, rubber-wheeled armoured personnel carrier vehicle with excellent manoeuvrability on many types of terrain. Taking part in the bidding competition were Valmet with its tractor-based prod-uct and Sisu with a vehicle based on truck technology. On the last day of 1983, after testing conducted by the Defence Forces, product was de-clared as the overwhelming winner of the bidding competition.

The design team for the original XA-180 models fea-tured names such as Kari Lindholm, Eero Mynttinen, Pertti Martikainen, Jan Fröjdman, and Jorma Toikka. The Sisu armoured vehicle (‘Panssari-Sisu’ in Finnish) was given the nickname ‘Pasi’ already in the planning phase, before any vehicles had actually been built.

THE FIRST VEHICLES FOR LEBANON

Serial production of Pasis began in 1984, when 14 XA-180s, equipped with a 240-horsepower Valmet diesel engine and basic equipment, were delivered to the Finnish Defence Forces. The same year, a delivery of the fi rst Pasis, consisting of nine specially equipped XA-180s, was made to the Finnish UN troops for deployment in Lebanon. The fi rst vehicle in serial production was nicknamed ‘Ensio’ after the famous Finnish peacekeeping general, Ensio Siilasvuo.

Pasi exports began already in the late 1980s, when fi ve Pasis were delivered to Sweden. In the past few dec-ades, Sweden, Norway, and the Netherlands have been important countries of export. Pasis have been deployed in international operations in, for example, Afghanistan,

Ever since 1984, in the fi eld of troop transport the Pasis have provided power and protection to diff erent

defence forces and especially in UN-peacekeeping missions.

In addition to the Finnish Defence Forces, numerous Pasis have been sold to customers

abroad – for example, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands,

and Estonia. The very last Pasi was handed over to the customer in

2005. Serial production of the new-generation armoured vehicle,

the Patria AMV, had begun a year earlier, in 2004.

1990 2000

XA-180First generation

XA-185Second generation

XA-200Third generation

1984 1993 1997

XA-200-SERIESengine Valmet 7.4-litre power 202 kW torque 1080 Nm transmission Allison 6-gear automaticwheels 6suspension rigid axles, leaf springs diff erentials only transversebrake system drum brakeslayout engine compartment in the middle max. combat weight XA 200, 22,5 tonnesamphibious operation no amphibious capability

WEAPONwere supplied to the Finnish UN troops in Lebanon.

Patria 23

2010

PATRIA AMV

PATRIA AMVengine Scania 12-litre power 405 kWtorque 2090 Nmtransmission ZF 7-gear automaticiwheels 8suspension hydropneumatic independent suspension diff erentials transverse and longitudinalbrake system disc brakes, ABSlayout engine compartment in front, to the right max. combat weight 27 tonnesamphibious operation up to 22.5 tonnes

Iraq, Bosnia, and Kosovo, and they have been used in UN peacekeeping operations in the Middle East, Na-mibia, Eritrea, and Cambodia.

In total, approximately 1,300 Pa-sis were manufactured, over a span of more than 20 years. In operation, Pasis have demonstrated their re-liability and endurance: almost all Pasis ever manufactured are still in active use, all over the world. And they look all set to be in active use for at least another 20 years.

PATRIA AMV CONTINUES PASI’S TRIUMPHAL MARCH

In 2001, the prototype for the Patria AMV 8x8, the wheeled armoured vehicle that is Pasi’s successor, was completed. The aim was to develop a wheeled vehicle that would be

as close as possible to the off -road mobility of the tracked vehicles and outstanding on-road capabili-ties. Improvements introduced by the Patria AMV: due to more pow-erful engine and hydropneumatic suspension - signifi cantly better mobility on roads as well as signifi -cantly improved off -road mobility; better mine- and ballistic protection for the crew ; signifi cantly improved payload; and if required amphibi-ous up to 22 tons. Patria AMV is well suited being a platform to modern, even heavy weapon systems.

The fi rst prototypes were delivered to the Finnish Defence Forces in 2003. In addition to Finland, contracts are in place for over 1,400 AMV. vehicles to be delivered to six countries.

XA-202

IN MANOEUVRABILITY ON rugged terrain, the Patria AMV has an enormous advantage. Moreover, there are diff erences in, for example, armour, mine protection, and the vehicle interior.

Nearly all weapon systems, a machine gun, and a 105 mm turret, as well as the Patria Nemo and AMOS 120 mm mortar systems, can be mounted on the Patria AMV Moreover, its greater maximum load allows for improved ballistic and mine protection. The layout of the

AMV enables more fl exible integration of diff erent kind of weapon systems. In the XA-series because of the lesser payload and shorter rear-compartment, only the lighter weapon systems up to medium caliber turrets (25/30mm) or a 1,500 kg Patria Nemo mortar system can be integrated on it.

AMV 2000

2004

COMPARING READINESS FOR WEAPON SYSTEM MOUNTING:

In total, approx-imately 1,300 Pasis were manufactured,over a span of more than 20 years.

Opinion >photo Riikka Hurri

A decade of practical experience in

European co-operation (NATO/EU/

WEAG and EDA), with the position of

EDA Armaments Director for the past

three years.

Jukka Juusti

24 Patria

In a world of diminishing budgets, we see strong demand for cost-saving solutions.

Patria 25

25

Experts agree that there are multiple options for managing

with a smaller budget. Examples of applicable solutions include

pooling and sharing, Centres of Excellence, leasing, focusing on

core operations, joint projects, and outsourcing. Regional co-

operation, such as the Nordic NORDEFCO, also provides opportuni-

ties for significant cost savings and improved efficiency.

In addition to economic challenges, this field has been

affected by the low number of joint projects and delayed project

schedules. There seems to be clear political and economic demand

for co-operation. Why, then, have we been so slow in changing the

way we operate and initiate co-operation? One explanation can

be found in the challenges of international co-operation: it is very

different from national operations, and adjustment will always

take time.

It is essential to remember that co-operation must always

be based on the needs of the participating countries. The starting

point for co-operation must be the participating countries’ experi-

ence that, in comparison to national projects, joint projects gener-

ate distinct benefits in terms of quality, schedule, or financial

profit. On its own, an international spirit of communality is not a

sufficient motivator: joint projects based on co-operation must be

able to prove their superiority continuously when compared

to national projects.

In a multicultural environment, development of functional,

efficient, and financially sound models for co-operation is chal-

lenging. They are, however, an absolute must if we are to take

co-operation further. Some of the greatest challenges facing us

The future of European joint projects

>

EDA = European Defence Agency

OCCAR = Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation

NORDFECO = Nordic Defence Cooperation

as supporters of international co-operation

include creating co-operative models and

building trust based on success stories.

I believe in the future of European joint

projects. Ultimately, they are our only means

of implementing large-scale projects that

resource shortages or high costs render

impossible to implement at the national level.

The challenge is to operate in line with the

interests of the Member States and develop

models for co-operative work that match the

projects’ scale. OCCAR is a good example of a

modern procurement organisation. The EDA,

too, is well on its way to creating a functional

model for European co-operation.

Multinational co-operation faces many challenges. In a world of diminishing budgets, we see strong demand for cost-saving solutions.

26 Patria

In Brief >photos Antti Hentinen, Patria and The Finnish Defence Forces

T he total value of the project is approxi-

mately €250 million.The agreement also

includes an option for 113 vehicles.

”We are extremely satisfied with FMV’s conclu-

sion that our product is the one that best meets

their requirements. We offer the Swedish soldiers a

safe and field-tested vehicle – both of these factors

being of great importance in the extreme conditions

that soldiers operate in,” says Seppo Seppälä, the

president of Patria Land & Armament Oy.

According to Seppälä, Patria can offer Swe-

den a genuine Nordic product with 100% offset

purchases. Patria’s model for operations is strongly

networked, which implies that the agreement is

highly significant also for Patria’s subcontractors,

both in Finland and abroad. The agreement now

concluded is especially important in Sweden, where

co-operation with Patria in the area of armoured

Sweden chooses Patria’s AMV

>In August 2010, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV)

announced that it has chosen Patria as the supplier of 113 vehicle

systems.

personnel carriers goes back a long way.

Assembling the vehicles in Finland will provide

excellent support to Patria’s approach of focusing

on key areas of competence in Hämeenlinna. “For

Patria, this decision is a significant step on the way

to becoming a Nordic defence equipment group.

For quite some time now, the Nordic countries have

selected shared military systems. FMV’s decision

further improves the opportunities for both military

and industrial co-operation in the Nordic countries,”

says Heikki Allonen, CEO of Patria.

The 113 vehicles now ordered will be delivered by

the end of 2013, enabling the Swedish Armed Forces

to place them in operation-readiness during 2014.

The Patria AMV was introduced to the market in

2004. So far, Patria has concluded agreements on

approximately 1,400 vehicles, delivered to, for exam-

ple, Finland and Poland.

Patria mobilises for social responsibility

>Patria and the

Finnish Military Sport

Federation have agreed

on a three-year project

to improve conscripts’

physical fitness.

A s an expression of its social responsibility,

Patria supports the Finnish Military Sport

Federation’s ‘Get Moving’ development

project. Working together with the Conscript Com-

mittees, the project develops sports club activities

for conscripts, resulting in higher levels of physical

activity for the youth.

The objectives of the Get Moving development pro-

ject include:

- Expanding conscript sports club activities, orga-

nised by the Finnish Military Sport Federation, so that

they cover all defence force units responsible for con-

script training, and become available for all conscripts.

- Promoting social interaction and helping conscripts

cope better during their time in service.

- Encouraging conscripts to be physically active and

providing examples of how physical activities can be

continued in reserve duty.

Upgrade of the Finnish Navy’s Rauma-class fast attack crafts

Patria has signed an agreement with

the Finnish Navy on the upgrade of

the Rauma class fast attack crafts, built in the

early 1990s.

T he total value of the project is approximately €64.7 million.

Patria is the project’s prime contractor, responsible for

overall planning, subcontractor delivery co-ordination, and

integration. Patria’s subcontractors include Saab AB, Western Shipyard

Oy, Kongsberg Maritime AS, Furuno Finland Oy, Ab Marinel Oy, and

Valmarine Oy.

‘The modernisation of the Rauma-class fast attack crafts is a

challenging undertaking on account of the various system upgrades

covered by the project. Over the past few years, we have systematically

developed both our systems expertise and our capability to lead and

implement various systems integration projects. Consequently, we are

very pleased with the trust placed in us by the Finnish Navy,’ says Pasi Niinikoski, the president of Patria’s Systems Business Unit.

The four Rauma-crafts – Rauma, Raahe, Porvoo, and Naantali – will be

upgraded in 2010–2013. The upgraded vessels are to reach operative

readiness from 2014 onwards. The upgrade will extend the service

life of this vessel class to the 2020s. At the same time, new perform-

ance requirements and the challenges created by new threats will be

accounted for.

>

27

Patria Oyj

Kaivokatu 10 A, FI-00100 Helsinki, Finland info@patria.fi