Latvia receives first domestically produced CAVS Patria 6×6 APC

The NAF received its first CAVS Patria 6×6 APC at Ādaži on 5 August. (Latvian MoD/Gatis Dieziņš)

The Latvian National Armed Forces (NAF) received its first Patria 6×6 armoured personnel carrier (APC) under the Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) programme at its base in Ādaži on 5 August. The vehicle was handed over to the NAF National Guard's 3rd Latgale Brigade, the Latvian Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on its website on 5 August.

It was produced by Defence Partnership Latvia, a 70:30 joint venture between Patria Latvia and Unitruck SIA, at an APC production facility in Valmiera, which was opened at the end of May and is expected to produce 30 Patria 6×6 vehicles a year. “Patria armoured vehicles produced in Latvia that we receive in the coming years will increase both the power of our armed forces and also contribute to security of supply,” Latvian Defence Minister Andris Sprūds said at the handover ceremony.

Finland and Latvia launched the CAVS programme in 2020 and were joined by Sweden in 2022.

Meanwhile, Patria 6×6 deliveries are under way to the three countries, with nearly 700 orders for the vehicle and over 200 delivered, some of which are in operational use, according to the Finnish company. Latvia signed a contract with Patria in August 2021 for over 200 CAVS vehicles, including support and training systems, for delivery by 2029.

Uģis Romanovs, chairman of the board of Defence Partnership Latvia and Patria Latvia, told Janes on 7 August that deliveries to Latvia are on schedule: “Patria has delivered over 90 Patria 6×6 vehicles to the NAF and the rest (over 50%) will be delivered from Patria's Valmiera facility in Latvia.”