Sweden orders armoured vehicles

has received an order from the Defence Materiel Administration for an additional 52 Bv206S armoured all terrain vehicles. The order, which includes an option to acquire additional vehicles, is valued at approximately 250 million Swedish Kronor. Upon completion of the contract, the Swedish Armed Forces’ fleet will contain 93 Bv206S vehicles.

The Swedish Armed Forces is expanding its fleet to provide tactical and strategic mobility for the Nordic Battle Group rapid reaction force, which will be at the European Union’s disposal starting January 1, 2008. The rapid reaction force will be led by Sweden with participation by Finland, Norway and Estonia.

The Bv206S supports the rapid reaction force's ability to swiftly and safely transport troop and equipment to exposed and remote areas. The vehicles can be transported by smaller airplanes and helicopters, which makes it a suitable alternative for rapid forces with high demands on tactical and strategic mobility and troop transport under protection.

The vehicle has full power on all four tracks at all times, which together with a unique steering device, gives good mobility in all types of terrain. The Bv206S is also amphibious and has a loading capacity of 1550 kg. A tow with a total weight of up to 2500 kg can be connected to the vehicle. The vehicle’s handling requires minimal driving training.

Including this order, 479 Bv206S vehicles have been sold to

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. The Bv206S is an armoured variant of BAE Systems Hagglunds’ Bv206. The company has manufactured more than 11,000 Bv206 vehicles, which have been sold to 40 countries worldwide.