Defense modernization: Japan will begin production of Finnish armored vehicles.

The Japanese company Japan Steel Works will produce Patria AMV XP armored personnel carriers

In September 2025, Japan Steel Works will start licensed production of Finnish wheeled armored personnel carriers Patria AMV XP 8×8 in Hiroshima. This will mark a new chapter in the development of the Japanese armed forces. Selected by the Japanese Ministry of Defense in December 2022, this armored personnel carrier will replace the outdated fleet of Type 96 armored personnel carriers.

The Patria AMV XP 8×8 armored personnel carrier offers a significant leap forward in capabilities compared to the old Type 96, which has been in service since the mid-1990s. It features a modular armor system that provides a higher level of protection and survivability compared to its predecessor.

'We are pleased to expand production in Japan as our partner's capabilities grow,' said a representative of Patria.

The AMV XP armored personnel carrier is versatile and compatible with advanced systems, such as the Patria NEMO mortar turret. This solution is part of Japan's ground forces modernization strategy amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.

A new area of cooperation between Patria and Japan Steel Works may lead to joint projects and the development of specialized versions of the AMV XP armored personnel carriers in the future.