Latvia’s Bold Leap: Introducing the First Indigenous Patria 6×6 Armored Personnel Carrier
On Monday, 5 August 2024, Defence Partnership Latvia, a collaboration primarily owned by Patria, unveiled the first-ever Latvian-produced Patria 6×6 armored personnel carrier to the Latvian National Armed Forces during an official ceremony at the military base “Ādaži”.
Under a contract established with Patria in 2021, the Latvian Ministry of Defence ordered over 200 Patria 6×6 armored vehicles, scheduled for delivery by 2029. This partnership agreement boosts the operational efficiencies of the Latvian National Armed Forces (NAF) and promotes the advancement of the Latvian defense technology and industrial landscape.
The event was attended by the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Latvia, 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.
“In the past four years since Latvia became part of the multinational Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) initiative, we have reached a significant milestone – the delivery of the first armored personnel carrier entirely produced in Latvia to the National Armed Forces (NAF). With the launch of the Valmiera facility in May, we are focused on fulfilling the Latvian armored personnel carrier contract while concurrently enhancing additional NAF capability-building programs in our manufacturing facility, thereby strengthening both NAF operational capacities and the Latvian industrial and economic environment,” stated Uģis Romanovs, Chairman of the Board of Defence Partnership Latvia and Patria Latvia.
At the end of May, an armored personnel carrier production facility was inaugurated in Valmiera, where approximately thirty Patria 6×6 armored personnel carriers are projected for annual output. The Patria armored vehicle plant in Valmiera is the first and currently the only one in the Baltics.
The Patria 6×6 platform was chosen for the CAVS initiative, which already involves participation from Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Germany. In addition to Latvia, ongoing deliveries of CAVS-related Patria 6×6 units are also being executed for Finland and Sweden, with vehicles currently in active deployment. Patria has received inquiries for nearly 700 Patria 6×6 vehicles, with about 200 already delivered. The program is accessible to European nations with similar equipment requirements, contingent upon approval from the participating countries.
