Patria Pasi variants, which were the choice of the defence forces of Finland for the armoured personnel carries to replace the aging Soviet BTR-60s was a result of the commercial competition between two Finnish companies, a tractor manufacturer Valmet and the lorry manufacturer Sisu, which won the contract with its prototype.
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Prototypes and series
Patria Pasis have been produced in various models and also for various purposes. Originally Panssari-Sisu, was not produced by Patria, but Sisu lorry manufacturer. The other possible armoured personnel carrier which could have come in the question of a choice for the defence forces of Finland to replace BTR-60 was Panssari-Valmet, which did not win the competition.
Technically the variants of Pasi are marked with two letters XA, which means cross-country armoured vehicle, the first and second number means the power in tens of kilowats. Therefore, Pasi XA-180 means, that it is a cross-country armoured vehicle (XA) having an engine capable for 180 kW (18× 10 kW). The last number, 0, means that XA-180 is the first version of the 180 kW Pasi's.
Manufacturing companies
The name of the manufacturer has changed several times. Up until 1980 the producer was known as Oy Suomen Autoteollisuus Ab. In 1981 it changed its name to Oy Sisu Auto Ab, which reflected the name of the Sisu branded lorries Suomen Autoteollisuus had manufactured. In 1994 Oy Sisu-Auto Ab purchased Valmet Oy's forest tractor and harvester business, and additionally the production of the tractors and engines. Oy Sisu Ab was founded to function as the holding company of all the new entities and the old Oy Sisu-Auto Ab. For the lorry production, a new Oy Sisu-Auto Ab, now Oy Sisu Auto Ab, was founded.
In 1995 the military vehicle production profit center of Oy Sisu Ab, Sisu Defence is changed into a separate subsidiary company Sisu Defence Oy, which continues the military vehicle production with Masi, Misu, Nasu, Pasi, Rasi and Raisu lorries. In 1996 Sisu Defence was sold to Suomen Puolustusväline Oy, which is a state owned company. In 1997 Sisu Defence Oy merged with Suomen Puolustusväline to become Patria Vehicles Oy.
XA-180
Prototype history
The prototype of XA-180 was produced by Sisu Auto in 1980 for the tests. Another type, which was ordered for tests was made by a tractor manufacturer Valmet (now Valtra). In 1983 Sisu XA-180 was chosen as the armoured personnel carrier for the defence forces of Finland. on 22 December 1983 first 41 Sisus were ordered for the defence forces itself and nine was reserved for the peace-keeping activities of the United Nations. The defence forces of Finland has 425 XA-180 and XA-185 types Pasis.
Armouring
The main superstructure was manufactured from 6 mm to 12 mm armour steel. The bottom parts of the vehicle were mine strengthened. The windows are bullet-resistant and equipped with protective hatches. As for the off-road qualities XA-180 can take inclines up to maximum of 60°.
XA-180 is amphibious like XA-185. XA-186 is not amphibious like XA-202; XA-203 and XA-360 are not either.
XA-180EST
XA-180EST is the Estonian model of XA-180. There are 58 of them in service. Finland had sold 61 of them, of which four were medevac models, two command post models and two command and control models. In 2005 there were delivered ordinary ones 30 units and four medievac units. In 2005 35 units of XA-180ESTs, 2006 21 units and 2007 5 units were transferred to Estonia.
Altogether there were 51 ordinary units, two command and control units, three repair units and four medievac units. The medievac units were equipped with conditioning and floor heaters. The XA-180ESTs were equipped with Harris radios and 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns.
The XA-180ESTs had been manufactured in Finland in 1987–89 having used for from 10,000 to 30,000 km. The engine will last about 120,000 to 130,000 km. Ten out of the sixty vehicles has been taken part in the Lebanon peace-keeping operations and the others has been mainly stored or being used in the military training in Finland.
Estonia wanted to buy 30 more XAs from Finland in 2008, but as a part of agreement, Finland wanted them not to be used outside the territory of Estonia, i.e. in the international operations with the coalition of the willing. Therefore, Estonia purchased 81 units of XA-188 from the Netherlands (see below). Also the price was considered to be high for the Estonians.
XA-181
XA-181s are like XA-180s, but as designation they have been equipped for the use of anti-aircraft artillery target directing radar, MOSTKA87M, earlier MOSTKA87, anti-aircraft missile launcher for ITO90M, earlier ITO90. Finland has 21 units of Crotale NG (VT-1) systems.
Crotale NG (VT-1) is an updated version, New Generation. Finland was the first operator of the system. The cost of the system is roughly 8 million euros (excluding the vehicle). Greece is another user, and paid 1 Billion French Francs in 1998 for 11 systems: 9 for the Hellenic Air Force and 2 for the Hellenic Navy. In 2002 euros, that would have amounted up to 12 million euros per unit.
XA-182
XA-182 has a Jantronic J-1000 radar target acquisition radar system including Ericsson Giraffe Mk IV radar.
Other
Some XA-180s are furnished to function as the medical evacuation vehicles and also NBC reconnaissance units (XA-185ST). Pasi is also used as an armoured fire engine to combat fires in ammunition dumps or other areas with explosive hazards. The fire engine equipment is installed to a normal APC version and does not require structural modifications to the vehicle.
XA-185
The defence forces of Denmark leased 11 XA-185s from Finland. Four of them were to be stationed in Bosnia, four other ones in Kosovo and three were left in Denmark for training purposes. The four ambulance models came in December, 2001 and the other four ones were to arrive in mid February 2002 and the last three ones in mid March, 2002.
XA-186
XA-188
200 kW Pasis
Patria Vehicles Oy Defence forces of Sweden, 104 units for €70,000,000 for the peace-keeping activities in 2002. The deliveries took place in 2001–02.
XA-202
XA-202 has more room in rear parts of the vehicle and is basically designed for command, command and communications purposes. It has room for four other soldiers and it is equipped with a possibility of 24-metres-long radio mast for directional antenna.