Finnish-led project covering FAMOUS armoured vehicles to progress – total value over EUR 100 million

Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen authorised the Finnish Defence Forces to sign the FAMOUS IA2 Implementation Agreement, the FAMOUS 2 Project Agreement and the FAMOUS 2 National Agreement.

The purpose of FAMOUS 2 project is to develop and test technological solutions with a view to enhancing the performance of armoured vehicles. At the national level, FAMOUS 2 is linked to the Arctic mobility project of the Finnish Army, aimed at replacing tracked vehicles, which are becoming outdated.
 
“This is yet another prime example of effective multinational defence materiel cooperation geared to meet the national capability targets of several countries. We succeeded in negotiating an international funding worth over EUR 100 million from the EU and the Participating States. The project moreover has immediate employment impacts for Finland,” says Minister Häkkänen.
 
Finland has responsibility for leadership of the project, and Austria, Belgium, Greece, France, Spain, Norway and Latvia are also involved. As the contracting entity concerned, the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command will prepare and sign a separate project agreement with an industrial consortium led by the Finnish defence and technology company Patria.
 
The level of support of the participating defence administrations for the FAMOUS 2 project will be determined in the implementation agreement to be signed. The total value of the project agreement to be jointly funded is EUR 11.8 million, value added tax excluded. In addition, the total value of Finland’s FAMOUS 2 National Agreement is EUR 1.5 million, value added tax excluded. The European Commission will fund the project with EUR 94.8 million. 
 
The employment effect of the contract in Finland will be about 168 person-years.
 
Inquiries: Laura Sinisalo, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 081, and Mikko Elo from the Finnish Army Command, tel. +358 299 800 (switchboard).