Yesterday, the Latvian Ministry of Defense announced its plans to acquire new 6×6 Patria CAVS IFVs, which are intended to be transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine as part of a military assistance package. According to an official statement, this batch is separate from the fleet already purchased by the Baltic country and currently being integrated. This approach aims to prevent delivery delays and reductions in the originally ordered quantities.

The recently published announcement comes just days after Ukraine’s ambassador to Latvia, Anatoliy Kutsevol, visited the Patria armored vehicle production plant, where future units destined for Ukrainian troops are being manufactured. During the visit, the ambassador met with Latvian authorities and representatives of the local company Defence Partnership of Latvia LLC, discussing not only the transfer of the IFVs but also the training of their future crews.

Regarding the decision, Latvian Defense Minister Andris Sprūds stated: “The Latvian-made armored personnel carriers will be delivered to Ukrainian defenders by the end of this year. We will not only support Ukraine in its fight against the invaders but also test the use and durability of these armored vehicles in real combat conditions, providing valuable lessons for our National Armed Forces.”

It is worth noting that Latvia’s program to acquire the Patria 6×6 APCs dates back to 2021, with the first acquisition agreement for 200 units signed in August of that year. Later, in 2024, the Latvian defense ministry expanded the order with an additional batch of 56 units as part of the Common Armored Vehicle System (CAVS) program. For Latvia’s military-industrial sector, this program has provided a significant boost, with the primary goal of reaching a production rate of 30 vehicles per year.

Finally, regarding the capabilities of the Patria 6×6 APCs being sent to Ukraine, these vehicles offer high mobility across diverse terrains, reaching speeds of up to 100 km/h thanks to their Scania DC 09/4-T turbocharged diesel engine. In terms of protection, each unit meets STANAG 4569 standards, ensuring crew safety against landmines, shrapnel, and machine gun fire. Additionally, the IFV can accommodate up to 10 personnel and can be equipped with 40mm grenade launchers and 12.7mm machine guns.

Images used for illustrative purposes.

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