Texelis Defense and the Finnish company SCATA announced the launch of a new 18-ton class multi-purpose tactical vehicle, the SCATA MK1.
Positioned between light tactical vehicles with a maximum gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 14 tons and heavier 6x6 or 8x8 armored platforms, the SCATA MK1 combines protection, payload capacity, mobility, and modularity.
Based on Texelis Defense’s Celeris mobility solution, this multi-role armored vehicle is designed to meet the demands of modern warfare. Building on industrial development initially led by France, this program enables the establishment of new sovereign production capacity in Finland, while mobilizing the local industrial ecosystem.
Developed in less than a year and soon to be unveiled at Eurosatory 2026 in Paris, it symbolizes the agility and responsiveness of new players on a European scale, capable of developing operational solutions in a short timeframe by pragmatically building upon elements that have already been developed, tested, and qualified, at a time when Europe is seeking to strengthen its defense industrial capabilities.
The SCATA MK1 is a versatile vehicle with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 18 tons, designed to handle a wide range of missions. Planned variants include: Troop Transport (APC); Special Forces; Reconnaissance; Counter-Drone (LAD/C-UAV); Short-Range Surface-to-Air Defense (SHORAD).
These high-value variants are particularly well-suited to the high mobility and payload capacity offered by the Celeris platform.
The Mk1’s architecture draws on recent lessons from modern conflicts, notably the war in Ukraine, where battlefields are characterized by:
- A significant breakdown of established routes, with an increased need for cross-country mobility
- A high tempo of operations, requiring maximum Operational Technical Readiness (OTR) and the highest possible maintainability
- Intensive use of drones
- Landmines
- An increased need for operational modularity
Celeris: A Capability Multiplier
The vehicle is built on Celeris, Texelis Defense’s NATO tactical vehicle co-development platform. This platform is based on a military-specific mobility system developed by Texelis Defense and already deployed in hundreds of vehicles worldwide, with significant operational feedback; Celeris is designed for the most demanding environments. It incorporates exclusively military components, developed or selected, specified, adapted, tested, and proven by Texelis Defense over the course of a multi-year development process.
Technically, Celeris incorporates:
- T750 axles with independent suspension, manufactured by Texelis Defense, enabling a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 18.5 tons and exceptional off-road vehicle dynamics
- The rear axle features a pull-arm design, which allows for easier integration into the armored body, more interior space in the rear of the vehicle, and improved structural protection
- These T750 axles are paired with the latest-generation Michelin XZL tires and CTIS (tire inflation pressure control systems), enabling optimized performance on soft terrain such as sand or mud
- A complete powertrain built around a 9L Euro 3 (Cummins) engine producing 375 horsepower, paired with an Allison transmission and a PowerLine transfer case
- An electrical and electronic architecture specially developed by Texelis Defense to meet SCATA’s requirements
Texelis Defense’s production of these various components is inherently designed for integration at a partner’s industrial site.
Celeris goes far beyond components. It represents a true collaborative vehicle development approach, which means that all aspects of the MK1 related to mobility -or having an impact on it - were taken into account and optimized prior to the program’s launch.
For example, the MK1 features a longer wheelbase compared to other vehicles in the Celeris family. It also has its own maintenance and support system, developed specifically for it by Texelis Defense to ensure maximum DTO and enable true autonomy in maintenance.
Like all vehicles built on this mobility platform, it is part of the Celeris Club, which means it benefits from decades of maintenance tracking and obsolescence management, unlike the civilian platforms used by other vehicles. Celeris Club users also have access to all developments made for other members, enabling beneficial exchanges and optimization of the various fleets in service.
The MK1 is the fourth vehicle to use the Celeris mobility platform, following the Serval (France, Belgium as part of the CaMo program), the M1 from INKAS (Canada), and the P2 Tiger from PT SSE (Indonesia).
A Landmark Partnership on a European Scale
The MK1 marks the first collaboration of this scale between French and Finnish companies, as well as the first industrial development project in Europe based on this platform since the Serval.
Completed in less than a year, this development demonstrates Europe’s ability to rapidly design high-performance solutions by leveraging existing expertise wherever it is available and combining the capabilities of different nations.
This project is part of a fundamental European industrial dynamic aimed at strengthening the resilience of defense production chains. It serves as a symbol of how the European defense industry can be built: with speed and efficiency, by combining solutions that have already been developed and proven.
This pragmatic approach allows for the use of high-level developments already led by European NATO member states to enable the extremely rapid development of comprehensive, proven operational capabilities that offer a high degree of commonality with other European or NATO fleets, thereby multiplying production capabilities at a time when Europe is constrained by its own limitations in this area.
This industrial approach explains why the development of SCATA’s MK1 took only one year, just like the other vehicles built using the Celeris platform, whereas the typical lead-time for a standard, off-the-shelf vehicle is closer to 18 months.
This partnership-based approach also opens the door to complementary partnerships with other French, Finnish, or more broadly European manufacturers interested in joining this project.
