The Latvian Ministry of Defence (MOD) has reached an agreement worth more than €60m ($63.38m) for the manufacture and delivery of 56 additional Patria 6x6 armoured command and control vehicles.
This development follows Latvia's receipt of its first locally produced Patria 6x6 armoured personnel carrier in August this year.
The latest production work will leverage local industry capabilities in Latvia, including Patria’s armoured vehicle production facility in Valmiera, which opened in May 2024.
Deliveries are set to begin this year and continue until 2029.
Latvia Minister for Defence Andris Sprūds said: “The new Patria 6x6 armoured command and control vehicles will significantly improve the operational capabilities of our armed forces, as well as contribute to the development of the Latvian military industry, continuing the successful cooperation between the defence sector and industry.”
The procurement is part of the Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) programme, which includes Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Germany.
In August this year, Patria signed a life cycle management contract with Finland and Latvia to enhance long-term operational efficiency for the CAVS programme.
The research and development agreement for the programme was signed at the end of 2020, with deliveries to Latvia, Finland, and Sweden already underway.
The CAVS programme is open to European countries with similar equipment needs, pending approval from participating countries.
Patria Market Area Nordics senior vice-president Mats Warstedt said: “The deep cooperation between Patria, Latvia and other CAVS member nations has yet again proved its benefits in the form of cost-effective and efficient research and development programme which enables rapid manufacturing and delivery process.”
Earlier this week, the Latvian MOD decided to continue contract negotiations with Spanish company GDELS-Santa Bárbara Sistemas for the potential purchase of ASCOD infantry fighting vehicles to bolster its land defence capabilities.
Contract negotiations with the Spanish company have begun and may conclude by the end of this year or early next year.
The decision-making process evaluated criteria such as functional test results, platform pricing, delivery dates, and local industry participation.
ASCOD base model infantry fighting vehicles are used by the armed forces of Spain, Austria, Great Britain, the US, and the Philippines.
