Publications

I have emphasised the importance of Europe’s persistence to ensure the sovereignty of Ukraine several times in my previous writings and presentations. Ukraine has taught Europe many lessons, many of which we are still learning. Importantly, we have realised that Europe needs to be more autonomous in its defence. With a global power recalibration, European countries are doing more, together and with industry, to ensure a credible and prepared Europe on the international stage. This is Europe’s hour, and how we respond now will define our security for decades to come.

Cooperation as Europe’s decisive advantage

Cooperation gives Europe a strategic advantage. No individual country can realistically deter all the threats we face: we must work together. The political will to do that is there. The strategy to implement it comes next. Only binding, long-term procurement commitments will give industry the confidence to invest at scale. Without them, Europe will remain too slow, too fragmented, and too dependent on others.

This is Europe’s hour, and how we respond now will define our security for decades to come.

Finland shows an example on what systematic cooperation between government, the armed forces, industry, and public authorities can achieve. Established processes and transparent communication enable rapid action, even in times of crisis. Patria is proud to be a trusted part of this strategic partnership, which has proven resilient time and again.

Preparedness is not improvised in times of crisis: it is built every day through cooperation.

Joint programmes like the Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS), based on the Patria 6×6 armoured vehicle, prove that cooperation between nations works. Our strength comes from multinational frameworks and integration of local suppliers, where professionals can develop expertise and knowledge based in Europe, enabling continuous innovation and capability improvement. Our programmes allow countries to modulate the vehicles to their needs and produce them with a local work force, while hitting their capability requirements and fostering cooperation by remaining compatible with other nations using the programme. Patria’s model encourages technology transfer and interoperability. Nation states choose their approach to defence, while we guarantee battle-hardened equipment and technology while focusing on innovation.

From innovation to action

Europe is not short of ideas. It is short of speed. Threats are evolving in real time. Europe must accelerate the path from research to deployment, ensuring that innovation translates directly into preparedness. Otherwise, we risk building tomorrow’s solutions for yesterday’s wars.

Innovation is abundant, from advanced armoured systems to breakthrough drone technologies. But innovation that never reaches the battlefield is wasted potential.

Europe must ensure that innovation translates into preparedness. Otherwise, we risk building tomorrow’s solutions for yesterday’s wars.

As a company, we have learnt a lot from CAVS and our success has led us to innovate and invest in the next step: the Future Highly Mobile Augmented Armoured Systems (FAMOUS) programme. At the heart of FAMOUS is innovation and interoperability capabilities. It is more than a vehicle programme, it is what Patria stands for: cooperation. We know our role is not just to provide for our customers; we have a duty to the ecosystem around us as well. With each programme we see increasing participation from other defence companies, because cooperation isn’t just for European nations.

Another important lesson from the war in Ukraine is that while trench warfare remains relevant, the rapid pace of technological innovation is a game-changer on the field. Drones, counter-drone measures, and electronic warfare are not future capabilities, they are present necessities. Another significant shift in frontline warfare is the use of artificial intelligence, which is transforming everything from operational decision-making to logistics, from predictive maintenance to autonomous systems. Patria is also embracing this change: with our AI-WASP programme, we are enhancing European defence capabilities, especially in the fields of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR). Together with nine other consortium members, we continue to innovate, bringing traditional and modern defence capabilities together to meet the needs of the modern battlespace.

The hour of Europe

The theme of this year’s Helsinki Security Forum, “The Hour of Europe”, is both daunting and timely. The world is not waiting for Europe to catch up. Every hesitation, every delay, is an advantage handed to our adversaries.

Europe has the talent, the resources, and the industrial base. What is missing is decisiveness to turn potential into power. Cooperation and innovation are not optional extras: they are the foundations of credible European defence.

This is the hour of Europe. Not the hour for speeches or hesitation, but the hour for action. The hour to move from fragmented strategies to united commitments. The hour to turn innovation into operational reality. The hour to preserve peace through strength.

Europe has no time to lose. Patria is ready. Are you?

Esa Rautalinko is the President and CEO of the Patria Group.

Patria is an official partner of Helsinki Security Forum 2025.