HELSINKI, Finland, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Finland's Patria Land and Armament Oyj's deal with Sweden for 113 armored vehicles is being contested by a Swedish competitor.
The company said the competitor, which it didn't identify, has filed a complaint over the deal in the Stockholm County Administrative Court.
"It is unfortunate that the process is delayed," said Seppo Seppala, president of Patria Land and Armament Oyj. "We respect the legal course but if this causes long-term disruptions there is a risk of this complicating the possibilities for the Swedish armed forces to use the security equipment they need.
"We participated in the tender on the same terms as the other participants and we believe that it was a thorough and correct process …"
Additional details of the filing weren't immediately available.
Patria Land and Armament Oyj of Finland had earlier announced its $336 million contract from Sweden's Defense Materiel Administration for 113 armored modular vehicles.
It had said it was committed to an offset agreement covering 100 percent of the program's costs and that Swedish subcontractors would provide protection, automotive, suspension, propulsion and electronic systems for the vehicles.
Sweden will use the AMVs as armored personnel carriers, replacing its Swedish produced PBV302, and Hagglunds BV206(S) and Russian-origin MT-LB.
Patria Land and Armament had said the 113 AMVs would be assembled in Finland.
