First Latvian-Made Patria 6x6 APCs Delivered to National Armed Forces

Defence Partnership Latvia, a joint venture majority-owned by Patria, delivered the first Latvian-made Patria 6x6 armoured personnel carrier to the Latvian National Armed Forces (NAF) on August 5.

The handover ceremony took place at the Ādaži military base.

The Latvian Ministry of Defence had signed a contract with Patria in 2021, ordering over 200 Patria 6x6 armoured vehicles, scheduled for delivery by 2029. This agreement aims to enhance the combat capabilities of the NAF and contribute to the development of Latvia's defence technology and industrial base.

In May, an armoured personnel carrier production facility was opened in Valmiera, which plans to produce approximately 30 Patria 6x6 armoured personnel carriers annually. This factory is the first and currently the only one of its kind in the Baltics.

The Patria 6x6 vehicle, chosen as the platform for the Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) programme, is already in operational use in Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Germany.

Patria has received orders for nearly 700 Patria 6x6 vehicles, with about 200 already delivered. The CAVS programme is open to other European countries with similar equipment requirements, subject to the approval of the participating nations.