On Monday, August 5, 2024, the Latvian National Armed Forces (NAF) marked a significant milestone in their defense capabilities with the delivery of the first domestically made Patria 6×6 armored personnel carrier.
The vehicle, produced by Defence Partnership Latvia—a joint venture majority-owned by Patria—was handed over during a ceremony at the military base in Ādaži.
The delivery is part of a broader contract signed in 2021 between the Latvian Ministry of Defence and Patria, under which Latvia has ordered over 200 Patria 6×6 armored vehicles, to be delivered by 2029. This partnership not only enhances the combat capabilities of the NAF but also contributes to the development of Latvia’s defense technological and industrial base.
The ceremony was attended by key figures including the Latvian Minister of Defence, Andris Sprūds, Chairman of the Board of Defence Partnership Latvia and Patria Latvia, Uģis Romanovs, and Acting Commander of the Home Guard, Colonel Gunārs Vizulis.
“Over the past four years since Latvia’s involvement in the multinational Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) programme, we have reached the most significant milestone of the project—the delivery of the first armored personnel carrier fully produced in Latvia to the National Armed Forces,” stated Uģis Romanovs. “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 NAF capability development projects in our factory, thereby strengthening both NAF combat capabilities and the Latvian industry and economy as a whole.”
The Valmiera production facility, which began operations at the end of May, is expected to produce approximately thirty Patria 6×6 armored personnel carriers annually. This facility is the first of its kind in the Baltics and represents a significant boost to Latvia’s defense manufacturing sector.
The Patria 6×6 vehicle was selected as the platform for the CAVS program, which is currently supported by Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Germany. Besides Latvia, ongoing deliveries of the Patria 6×6 vehicles are also being made to Finland and Sweden, with the vehicles already in operational use.
To date, Patria has received orders for nearly 700 Patria 6×6 vehicles, with approximately 200 already delivered. The CAVS program remains open to other European countries with similar equipment needs, pending approval from participating nations.
