Telia trials remote operation of Patria armoured vehicle using 5G network

The vehicle was steered from a command centre using a secure 5G network slice, which reserves dedicated capacity within a mobile network for specific applications. This allowed the vehicle to be controlled reliably and safely, even at high speeds.

The trial was conducted under the eALLIANCE programme, a multi-year initiative led by Finnish defence company Patria to promote technological innovation across Finland’s defence industry. Launched in 2024 and partially funded by Business Finland, the five-year programme includes over 30 companies and has a budget of around EUR 85 million.

Janne Koistinen, 5G Programme Director at Telia Finland, said: “The possibilities of advanced 5G slicing have already produced significant results in industry and logistics. We now see the rapidly growing defence industry as an important focus of innovation for dual-use cases of technology in the development of Europe’s defence capabilities.”

The test represents a major step forward in unmanned vehicle technology for defence applications, particularly in reconnaissance, support, and combat missions. “In these tests, Patria’s armoured vehicle has been controlled and driven remotely from a distance of almost 100 kilometres. This is a significant step forward,” said Matti Saarikko, Chief Technology Officer at Patria and leader of the eALLIANCE programme.