Latvia’s National Guard receives G36 rifles

The Latvian National Armed Forces (NAF) have transferred G36 assault rifles and KSP-58 machine guns to the State Border Guard, the Latvian Ministry of Defence announced on 24 May.

The National Guard is incorporated into the NAF during times of conflict; and during peacetime, the guard conducts joint training and crisis response coordination with the armed forces.

As a result, Latvia is carrying out a programme to standardise weapons across both the regular forces and National Guard. All units of regular forces are equipped with G36 rifles, and the weapon is now being rolled out across National Guard units to replace the Ak-4 assault rifle.

The procurement of G36 rifles in 2006 also initiated transition to NATO ammunition calibre standards. The aim of the modernisation is to ensure that soldiers can efficiently engage in different operations, on different terrains and against different vehicles, light armoured vehicles and fortifications, regardless of the time of day, climatic conditions and visibility.

Defence Minister Raimonds Bergmanis, said: ‘Defence and interior sectors are cooperating not only because the government requires to do so, our cooperation is also an excellent example of close cross-sector cooperation on common security and defence development goals.

‘Better cross-sector cooperation will only make Latvia stronger and safer. And that is what government aims to achieve.’