New Combat Vehicle Development in Finland: A Joint Venture
In a recent collaborative effort, French company Texelis Defense and Finnish firm Scata have unveiled an innovative combat vehicle developed entirely in Finland. The vehicle, known as the MK1, is designed to address a critical niche in the European defense market, offering capabilities for both counter-drone and air-defense operations.
The MK1, weighing 18 tons, was brought to life in under a year. It serves as a versatile platform, integrating insights gained from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This initiative was born out of the companies’ recognition of a market gap between light and heavy-duty combat vehicles in Europe.
“In Finland, we already have two combat vehicle suppliers, Sisu and Patria, whose offers range between 10-15 and 24 tons – we wanted to create something in the middle, to widen the portfolio of vehicles coming from Finland,” explained Viktor Ekman, the CEO of Scata, in a March 19 interview with Defense News.
Positioning itself as an “add-on” rather than a competitor, Scata aims to enhance the existing Finnish defense vehicle offerings. The MK1 is engineered for a variety of missions, including reconnaissance, transporting troops of up to 10 soldiers, conducting anti-drone operations, and providing short-range air defense.
When it comes to counter-drone capabilities, the company is exploring various weaponry options. One possibility includes deploying interceptor drones from the vehicle’s roof or interior to neutralize incoming threats, as stated by Ekman.
The design team has paid particular attention to reinforcing the MK1’s upper structure, learning from the vulnerabilities exposed in Ukrainian combat vehicles to first-person-view drones. Ukrainian forces have often resorted to using makeshift protective measures like metal cages or mesh to preemptively detonate explosives.
This Finnish-made combat vehicle is scheduled to make its public debut at the Eurosatory arms fair in Paris, occurring from June 15 to 19. Furthermore, Scata is currently engaged in discussions with Finland and Sweden, considering them as potential initial customers for the MK1.
