Patria has presented its ARVE prototype self-propelled howitzer at the company’s Arctic Event held in the Finnish city of Rovaniemi from 17th to the 19th of March. The event saw the unveiling of not one but two new prototypes, as well as a general overview of the company’s offerings with a focus on sub-arctic infantry capabilities.
ARVE
Perhaps the most eye-catching system on display was the first prototype of Patria’s new truck-mounted 155 mm gun. The prototype of the concept – designated ARVE – was shown to the public for the first time during the Arctic Event, and consists of a SISU E13TP all-terrain 8×8 truck with a towed 155 GH 52 howitzer integrated onto the rear.
Patria, through a number of mergers and acquisitions, is the current successor to Tampella’s defence division. As such it is the company responsible for the two towed 155 mm gun-howitzers currently used in large numbers by the Finnish Army, the 155 K 83 and 155 K 98 (or 155 GH 52 APU, as it is known when marketed internationally).
As the focus has been on providing a low-cost solution, no major changes have been made to the gun at this stage. When the vehicle arrives at the firing position, it is lowered down to sit at roughly the same height as the towed version, and operated exactly in the same way as the original weapon. This means that there is no need to convert reservists trained on the towed 155 GH 52 APU to a truck-based weapon, as all handling is the same. The SISU E13TP is also in service with Finnish Defence Forces (FDF), meaning that the ARVE marries two proven platforms together.
The specifications of the resultant ARVE largely match those of the towed weapon, with the ability to fire 3 rounds in the first 15 seconds out to a range of 40 km. Both gun laying and reloading is manual, but the benefit of the truck mount means that it is able to get the first shot off in 90 seconds, and leave the firing position in 45 seconds after the final round has been fired. The truck is able to carry 24 complete rounds.
With the 155 GH 52 and 155 K 83 being closely related, ARVE is able to mount both versions. The differences are that with the 155 K 83 having a shorter L/39 barrel compared to the L/52 of the 155 GH 52, that version would have a shorter range and weigh slightly less. With regards to the future of the project, Patria will perform test firings during the summer, and is then hopeful for an FDF order of conversions of the existing stock of guns. The company also adds that while the current prototype has not seen any changes to the gun itself in the interest of keeping development time and costs down, improvements such as electrical laying could be an option further down the line if the customer is interested.
Patria is also open to integrating other guns onto the vehicle, though it is notable that few countries in Europe have a significant number of towed 155 mm guns in service. What might open up the market further is the production of vehicles with new-build guns, with Patria confidently stating that they are able to start the production of completely new weapons – including 155 mm barrels – at short notice. The last new gun produced by Patria was the final 155 GH 52 APU in 2005, but the company states that it has been able to maintain its artillery know-how through being involved in maintenance, repair, and overhaul since then, including the manufacture and delivery of spare barrels.
While the ARVE is not offering the same kind of protection or automation of many of the competing self-propelled systems, the stated aim by several European countries to grow their armed forces means that there might be a market for a cheaper system that allows for mass in a way some of the higher-end offerings do not.