The Latvian National Armed Forces finally received its first locally-produced Patria armored personnel carriers (APCs) after three years of waiting.
A ceremony to celebrate the milestone was held at the Ādaži military base in central Latvia, with Defense Minister Andris Sprūds in attendance.
In August 2021, Riga signed a contract with Finnish firm Patria for the supply of more than 200 6×6 APCs to be produced on Latvian soil.
The move aimed to bolster the country’s defense technology and industrial base while also strengthening the combat capabilities of the Latvian military.
“We have reached the most significant milestone of the project — the delivery of the first armored personnel carrier full-cycle produced in Latvia to the National Armed Forces,” Latvia-Patria partnership chairman Uģis Romanovs declared.
Patria in Latvia
Earlier this year, Patria opened a new production facility in Valmiera, Latvia.
The site reportedly serves as the first-ever full-cycle production plant for 6×6 armored vehicles in the Baltic region.
It is expected to support the production of approximately 30 Patria APCs annually for the Latvian National Armed Forces.
“With the opening of the Valmiera plant in May, we are focusing on the Latvian armored personnel carrier order, but we are also actively working to implement other capability development projects (for the Latvian military),” Romanovs said.
The rest of the Patria APCs under order are expected to be delivered before 2029.
About the Patria APC
Launched at Eurosatory 2018, the Patria 6×6 was developed to meet the increasing demands of the modern battlefield.
It offers improved modularity, high performance, and cost-effectiveness in supporting a wide variety of missions.
Fully amphibious, the APC can accommodate up to three crew members and 10 soldiers, and achieve a maximum speed of 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour.