• Digital Battlespace

  Portugal joins NATO cyber-defence centre

  25th April 2018

  Portugal on 24 April became the 21st country to join NATO's cyber defence centre, the Tallinn-based body said at a flag-raising ceremony. ‘We are facing …

• Training

  Joint Warrior focuses on high-end warfighting

  26th April 2018

  The continued emphasis on coalition exercises is currently being exemplified in the UK through exercise Joint Warrior, with more than 11,600 military personnel from 17 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Latvia set to receive RQ-20A systems

  27th March 2018

  A US Army justification and approval notification has revealed that Latvia is set to receive RQ-20A Puma UAVs from AeroVironment. The contract for two RQ-20A Digital Data Link …

• Military Logistics

  EU tackles tank transport troubles in face of Russia threat

  28th March 2018

  The EU will on 28 March present detailed plans to make it easier to move troops and equipment around the bloc as Europe seeks to …

• Digital Battlespace

  Latvia to test new TPS-77 MRR radar

  13th March 2018

  The Latvian National Armed Forces (NAF) will finalise the delivery of the first TPS-77 Multi-Role Radar (MRR) by testing the system’s air surveillance capabilities, the …

• Defence Notes

  Baltic presidents to visit Trump

  22nd February 2018

  US President Donald Trump will welcome his counterparts from three Baltic states in Washington on 3 April to discuss security and economic ties, the Estonian …

• Digital Battlespace

  Canada to rejoin NATO’s AWACS programme

  19th February 2018

  Canada is to rejoin NATO's Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) programme, the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) announced on 14 February. In 2011, …

• Land Warfare

  Latvia to order Spike missiles

  15th February 2018

  The Latvian Ministry of Defence (MoD) is set to sign a $132.3 million contract with EuroSpike for the purchase of Israeli-made Spike anti-tank missile systems. …

• Special Operations

  Polaris vehicles for Latvia

  25th January 2018

  The Latvian armed forces is to acquire vehicles from Polaris under a foreign military sale with the US government, the company announced on 24 January. …

• Digital Battlespace

  More Harris radios for Latvia

  23rd January 2018

  The Latvian Ministry of Defence and the US government signed a new contract in December for the delivery of additional Harris tactical radios and accessories …

• Land Warfare

  Latvia signs contract for G36 rifles

  15th January 2018

  The Latvian National Armed Forces (NAF) have signed a framework agreement and purchase contract with Heckler & Koch for G36 assault rifles, the Latvian Ministry …

• Defence Helicopter

  Latvia orders two Leonardo AW119Kx

  4th January 2018

  Leonardo has received a contract from the State Border Guard of Latvia for two AW119Kx helicopters, the company announced on 2 January. The contract also …

• Digital Battlespace

  Latvia prepares for new air surveillance radar

  16th October 2017

  Latvia will receive an added boost to its air defence capabilities next year as it takes delivery of three new surveillance radar systems from the …

• Land Warfare

  Latvia receives first Austrian howitzers

  2nd October 2017

  Latvia has received its first examples of second-hand M109 self-propelled howitzers from Austria, as part of an agreement signed between the two countries in April. …

• Land Warfare

  Latvia agrees Stinger purchase from Denmark

  22nd August 2017

  The Latvian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has agreed to acquire an undisclosed number of Stinger air defence systems from the Danish Armed Forces, it was announced …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  CVR(T) Scimitar 2 (Ukraine Aid) [Latvia]

  Programme Background Latvia acquired 123 Scimitar 2s from the UK, with deliveries from 2015 to 2020.  They are due to be replaced by 84 ASCODs ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Tripartite Class Replacement [Latvia]

  Latvia currently operates five Tripartite-class minehunter vessels, which were delivered second-hand to Latvia between 2007 and 2011. The vessels have been in operation since the early ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Tripartite Class Replacement [Latvia]

  Latvia currently operates five Tripartite-class minehunter vessels, which were delivered second-hand to Latvia between 2007 and 2011. The vessels have been in operation since the early ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Patria 6x6 (Batch 1) [Latvia]

  Programme Background Programme History Estonia, Finland and Latvia's intention to jointly develop and procure a new APC platform was first announced in December 2019, when ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Patria 6x6 (Batch 2) [Latvia]

  Programme Background Programme History Estonia, Finland and Latvia's intention to jointly develop and procure a new APC platform was first announced in December 2019, when ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  ASCOD (Batch 2) [Latvia]

  Programme Background Latvia began a selection process in early 2023 for a future IFV to replace its small fleet of ex-British CVR(T) tracked vehicles. Seeking ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  5,000 Latvian UAVs (Ukraine Aid) [Latvia]

  Background Ukrainian Defence Contact Group (UDCG) In January 2024, the Ukrainian Defence Contact Group (UDCG), a multi-nation organisation that coordinates military aid for Ukraine, established a drone ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Patria 6x6 (Ukraine Aid) [Latvia]

  Programme Background Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Latvia has been part of the allied coalition providing Ukraine with military support. Previous Latvian ...

• Self-propelled guns

  M109 Paladin Replacement [Latvia]

  Programme Background Latvia acquired 47 Paladins in the M109A5Oe configuration from 2017 to 2018. These vehicles, purchased second-hand from Austria, had been upgraded to this configuration ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  ASCOD (Batch 1) [Latvia]

  Programme Background Latvia began a selection process in early 2023 for a future IFV to replace its small fleet of ex-British CVR(T) tracked vehicles.  Seeking ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 [Latvia]

  Background Factory Visit On 7 June 2021, Baykar’s official Twitter account announced that the Latvian Minister of Defence, Artis Pabrikis, had visited the Baykar National ...

• MRZR 2 (Forecast) (Latvia)

  Programme Background The Latvian Armed Forces have identified a need for off-road tactical military vehicles that will help to increase the responsiveness of its expeditionary ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Patria 6x6 [Denmark]

  Programme Background  Programme History The Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) programme brings together Finland, Germany, Latvia and Sweden to develop an armoured vehicle based on the ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  G-Wagon Replacement [Latvia]

  Programme Background Latvia procured 240 G-Wagons from Norway in 2004. These vehicles had been kept in storage in Norway and had very low mileage. This ...

• Minehunters

  Tripartite Class Replacement [Latvia]

  Programme Background Requirements Currently, Latvia does not have an active programme seeking to replace its Tripartite minehunters with a modern capability. Given an increase in ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  BEAK

  The BEAK is a Latvian man-portable quadcopter UAV, manufactured by Origin Robotics. It features an EO/IR camera payload and can host up to six munitions. ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  CVR(T) Scimitar 2

  The Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) (CVR(T)) family of lightweight armoured vehicles has been in continuous use with the British Army since its introduction in 1972. ...

• EO/IR systems, Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  iSea-30HD

  The iSea-30HD is part of the iSea family of compact observation systems designed for the harsh maritime environment. It features highly sensitive sensors, gyro-stabilization, and ...

• Land: battle management systems

  ASOC

  Under a contract awarded to Lockheed Martin by the USAF Electronic Systems Center in May 1997, the company is providing Air Sovereignty Operations Centers (ASOCs) ...

• Crew-served grenade launchers

  GMG

  Heckler & Koch developed the 40mm Grenade Machine Gun (GMG) to meet the requirements of the German Army. The GMG has been selected by users ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Patria 6x6

  Patria developed the Patria 6x6 APC, unveiled at the June 2018 Eurosatory exhibition, as a successor to the XA-series Pasi APC and to complement Patria's ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  ASCOD Common Base Platform

  GDELS unveiled a new variant of its tracked ASCOD (Austrian Spanish Cooperative Development) IFV based on the new Common Base Platform (CBP) at the June ...

• Land: air defence radar

  TPS-77 MRR

  The TPS-77 MRR is a multirole radar (MRR), designed for low power consumption and is the most transportable version of the TPS-77 product line. This ...

• Land: air defence radar, Land: battlefield and ground surveillance radar

  TRML-4D

  The TRML-4D is a multi-functional surveillance and target acquisition radar system developed by Hensoldt. It is the latest C-band (NATO G-band) TRS-4D radar family member, ...

• Minehunters

  Tripartite Class

  A total of 45 Tripartite-class minehunters have been built, with the original intention that the three partner nations of Belgium, France and the Netherlands would ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  VR Fox

  The VR Fox is a Light Tactical Vehicle (LTV) manufactured by Latvia's VR Cars. It is currently being manufactured for the Latvian Army as part ...

• Crew-served assault/anti-tank weapons

  Carl-Gustaf M4

  The Carl-Gustaf M4 is a fourth-generation, lightweight 84mm recoilless rifle developed by Saab Dynamics in September 2014. It is a highly versatile shoulder-launched weapon system ...

• Light UGVs

  Natrix

  The Natrix is a multipurpose UGV developed by Brasa Defence Systems. Conceived to carry equipment and conduct CASEVAC in a wide range of environments, the system ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  IRIS-T SLM

  The IRIS-T SLM (Surface Launched Medium-Range) is a surface-to-air missile system developed by Diehl Defence as part of the IRIS-T family of missile systems. Several countries ...

• Crew-served assault/anti-tank weapons

  Carl-Gustaf M3

  The Carl-Gustaf M3 is the third generation of the 84mm shoulder-fired recoilless antitank gun, first fielded by the Swedish Army in 1946. Since then, it ...