Engineering:XA-180 (EST)
| XA-180 | |
|---|---|
 An Estonian XA-180EST in Afghanistan | |
| Type | Armoured personnel carrier |
| Place of origin | Finland |
| Service history | |
| In service | 58 2005–present day |
| Used by | Estonia |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer |
|
| Produced | 1986 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 13.5 tonnes |
| Length | 7.35 m |
| Width | 2.90 m |
| Height | 2.77 m |
| Crew | 2+16 |
| Armour | 10+3 mm |
Main armament | 1x 12.7mm Browning machine gun 10000 rounds |
| Engine | Valmet 611 DSBJA diesel engine 236 bhp |
| Power/weight | 17.48 hp/tonne |
| Suspension | 6×6 wheeled |
Operational range | 900 km |
| Speed | 100 km/h, swim 10 km/h |
The XA-180 (also known as Patria Pasi) is a six-wheeled armoured personnel carrier (APC) originally designed for the Finnish Defence Forces. The first version was produced in 1983 and serial production began in 1984. The basic design was based on easy usage, simple basic structure and low cost maintenance. The basic appearance and configuration is similar to most wheeled APCs. In 2005 Estonia purchased a small amount of XA-180s from Finland .
History
Finland sold 60 APCs. 4 of them are medevac, 2 command and control and 3 communications vehicles [1].
XA-180EST is the Estonian model of XA-180. A total of 60 were purchased from Finland. There are 58 of them in service, two having been lost in Afghanistan. Altogether there were 51 APC units, two command and control units, three repair units and four medevac units. In 2005 there were delivered 30 APC configured units and four medevac units. The medevac units were equipped with air conditioning and floor heaters. The XA-180ESTs were equipped with Harris radios and 12,7 mm Browning machine guns. The XA-180ESTs had been manufactured in Finland in 1987-1989 and had between 10 000 km to 30 000 km. The engine will last about 120 000 km to 130 000 km before overhaul. Ten out of the sixty vehicles have taken part in peace-keeping operations and the others have been mainly stored or used in military training.[1]
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 international operations. Therefore Estonia purchased 81 units of XA-188 (similar to XA-180 but more heavily armored) from the Netherlands. It was one of the largest foreign military equipment purchases made by the Estonian army.
Gallery
A XA-180 armoured personnel carrier on display in Turku during Finnish Navy 2014 anniversary
Interior of Finnish military modernized Pasi XA-180M armoured personnel carrier
A SISU XA-180 APC armoured personnel carrier stationed at a checkpoint in Bosnia-Herzegovina on March 26, 1996
References
External links
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