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Latvia - Land Forces - Modernization

The National Armed Forces Development Plan envisages an ambitious range of procurements, which are planned to be carried out in an accelerated process, including the involvement of local industry in state procurement. To facilitate this, the National Armed Forces Development Plan includes, for the first time, guidelines for industry developed by the Ministry of Defense on the major areas of investment over the next four years in the development and maintenance of capabilities On 4 September 2014, during the NATO Summit in Wales, Great Britain, the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Latvia concluded an agreement with the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the acquisition of Combat Vehicles Reconnaissance (Tracked). With the signing of the agreement, the first phase of the Land Forces Infantry Brigade Mechanization Project is being implemented. Mechanization of the Land Forces Infantry Brigade was identified as one of the priority capabilities identified in the National Armed Forces Development Plan.

In May 2012, the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces started a feasibility study on the mechanization of the Land Forces Infantry Brigade, and already in May 2013, the Cabinet of Ministers considered and supported the Ministry of Defense solution - one battalion equipped with crawler platforms and the other with armed wheel platforms. In November 2013, the Cabinet supported the equipping of one battalion with little-used armor and the start of negotiations with the UK Ministry of Defense, but in August 2014 it considered and supported commitments and procurement with the UK Ministry of Defense.

In September 2014 Latvia signed a deal to buy 123 vehicles from the British army, with deliveries set to continue gradually until 2020 with many of the vehicles getting upgrades to modernize them. This is a tracked armored vehicles suitable for fighting under Latvian conditions with high mobility. The equipment can move through all the Latvian roads, bridges, ditches transmission, as well as the outside of the road network - everywhere where there is no marsh. The system is easy to transport by rail and sea and air transport.

The light weight and dimensions (approximately 5m x 2.5m x 2.5m) are well suited to the Latvian area and provide high mobility, camouflage and self-defense capabilities. The introduction of armaments in armaments will not require the development of a cumbersome engineering base for combat mobility. The equipment can move on all public roads, bridges, ditches available in Latvia, as well as outside the road network. The equipment can be easily transported by rail, sea or air.

The cost of buying 123 used CVR(T), or Alvis Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) armored vehicles had a basic purchase price agreed in 2012 of €50 million, rising to more than €250 million after they had been upgraded and fully equipped. The bargain price tag represented only a fraction of the total spend, with installation of communications and weapons guidance systems alone costing as much as the actual purchase price of each vehicle. While each vehicle costs on average €344,000, modern comms systems add €337,000 to that. Then come weapons and ammunition (€81,000), spare parts and tool (€41,000) and further modernization not included in the original upgrade package (€62,000).

Following a competition open to school pupils, the new Latvian names of various armored vehicles will be formally announced by defense minister Raimonds Bergmanis on 27 July 2017. The Sultan command vehicle became the 'Virsaitis' (chieftan); the Scimitar fighting vehicle became the "Zobens" (sword), the Spartan armored personnel carrier turned into "Perkons" (Thunder), the engineering vehicle Samson became "Vairogs" (Shield) and the military medical vehicle Samaritan was “Glabejs” (Rescuer).

BAE Systems, the seller, also had the contract to modernize Latvia's vehicles. The first refurbished armored vehicles were delivered to Latvia by UK-based BAE Systems in 2015, and the last ones arrived in 2020. For the hundred already delivered, it was discovered that there was an issue with one of the refurbished components, which had to be repaired to avoid accidents.

When Latvia began realizing one its most ambitious army plans – further mechanization of the Land Force Mechanized Infantry Brigade – at the same time it set another goal to involve more local suppliers in defense procurement contracts. Plans even specified that around one third of the contract volume must be based on the capabilities of Latvian companies. However, in reality it seems a UK arms industry giant with a lucrative Latvian contract doesn't seem to be in a hurry to make use of local business capacity according to Latvian Television's De Facto broadcast on 03 November 2019. Daily maintenance for the vehicles is carried out locally, but more serious repairs were still being carried out by the UK company.

The decision to involve local businesses to a greater extent is aimed at decreasing dependence on foreign suppliers during a possible crisis, as well as stimulating the local economy. Former Defense Minister Raimonds Bergmanis explained: “These are our guidelines for all further development plans, in this way we are further developing our military industrial complex.” The cost of buying 123 used CVR(T), or Alvis Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) armored vehicles had a basic purchase price agreed in 2012 of €50 million, rising to more than €250 million after they had been upgraded and fully equipped. BAE Systems, the seller, also had the contract to modernize Latvia's vehicles.

The contract stated that BAE Systems must provide highest-level repair services in Latvia by the end of 2016. After a prolonged evaluation a contract was signed with “Zemgale Repair Service” (Zemgales Remontu Centrs) in 2018. However, the company's Finance Director Ivars Ozolinš told De Facto that currently practically no repairs are being carried out on armoured vehicles. “Five years ago we began a dialogue with BAE Systems to determine potential partners, but we still don't have a clear understanding of the format and type of cooperation. The Ministry of Defense has been tolerant for long enough," said Federation of Security and Defence Industries of Latvia Board (FDSI Latvia) Chair Elina Egle.

Latvia purchased used self-propelled howitzers from Austria as part of its ongoing equipment purchase program, the Defense Ministry announced 21 February 2017. The deal to buy the big guns will be signed "in the near future" the ministry said. In total 47 units of military hardware will be purchased from Austria, including not only M109 155mm self-propelled guns but also driver training platforms and a mobile tactical control center. Of the total, 35 are self-propelled howitzers, 10 are turreted command and control vehicles (Austrian designation Rechenstellenpanzer M109) with main armament removed, and 2 are driving school vehicles. Costs varied from €60,000 to €140,000 per unit according to the precise specification and the level of upgrade each unit has.

The Defense Ministry said 22 February 2017 the total cost of the deal would be around €6 million, giving an average unit price of €127,000. The cost per unit, depending on its modification level, is between €60,000 and €140,000.The howitzers Latvia plans to buy were bought by Austria from the UK and handed over at Mansergh Barracks, Gütersloh in 1994. They were upgraded and have been kept in storage since around 2007.

The UK had previously bought the guns from the US, which first introduced the M109 in the early 1960s. Since then, upgraded versions including the famous 'Paladin' have become a common feature of many western armies.

The full complement of 47 howitzers bought from Austria arrived in Latvia, the Defense Ministry confirmed 18 October 2018. Defense Minister Raimonds Bergmanis welcomed the final delivery batch saying: "I am pleased that in such a short period of time we have received all the howitzers purchased from Austria, which is a historic contribution to strengthening the capacity of the Latvian Army's indirect fire capability."

The Latvian Ministry of Defense (Latvijas Republikas Aizsardzibas ministrija) signed an agreement with Austria in May 2021 to purchase another batch of 18 second-hand M109A5 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzers to boost national and regional defences. These self-propelled howitzers were sold on to Austria following introduction of the AS90 before being upgraded to M109A5 standard; in Austrian service they were then reclassified M109A5Ö (the suffix standing for Österreich or Austria).

"The purchase of howitzers is part of the development of the indirect fire support system of the artillery of the National Armed Forces. Within the framework of this specific procurement, it is planned to develop the first stage of the indirect fire support system by purchasing used 155mm self-propelled artillery systems that fully meet the minimum requirements of our Armed Forces indirect fire support profile. These systems will create preconditions for balanced and further capability development, with an emphasis on the simultaneous development of other capability elements - surveillance and target detection systems, fire control, command and control systems and information systems and ammunition, and integrated supply support, »said Lieutenant Colonel Edmunds Svencs head of administration.

In connection with this procurement, the Latvian Armed Forces will also supplement their defense capabilities with 120 mm mortar systems, which will provide indirect fire support over short distances, as well as with NATO caliber 120 mm mortar systems that meet the minimum requirements . Lieutenant Colonel E. Svencs emphasizes that within the framework of this project, the personnel of artillery experts in the National Armed Forces will definitely be restored both quantitatively and qualitatively.

On 17 December 2019, Latvia, together with Estonia and Finland, signed a letter of intent on the establishment of a common armored vehicle system, which is intended to be adapted to the needs of each country's ground forces. On January 29, 2020, Minister of Defense A. Pabriks and Finnish Minister of Defense Antti Kaikkonen signed a technical agreement on improving the mobility of the Latvian and Finnish Armed Forces by developing a new armored car system based on the 6x6 produced by the Finnish company Patria. vehicle bases. Estonia later signed the technical agreement but subsequently decided not to accede to the R&D agreement. On 26 May 2021, a prototype of a 6x6 vehicle manufactured by the Finnish company Patria will be presented at the Adaži test range, on the basis of which an armored vehicle for Latvia will be developed within the framework of an interstate project with Finland.

The National Armed Forces could receive the first new armored vehicles by the end of 2021. Deliveries are expected to take place each year for about 10 years. Deliveries are expected to take place each year for about 10 years. The price of armored vehicles in discussions with the merchant will mainly be determined by the requirements of Latvia, for example, the number of technical units, modifications and their diversity. One of the preconditions for Latvia's further participation in this project will be security solutions for the supply of 6x6 platforms offered by the manufacturer, their spare parts and knowledge required for maintenance, also involving domestic industry companies.

In March 2020 the National Armed Forces procured a batch of AT4 anti-tank weapons produced by Saab Dynamics to improve Land Force anti-tank capabilities. According to the cooperation agreement Latvia will receive AT4 antitank units in 2021. "By adding these antitank weapons to the arsenal of Latvian Army in scope of Latvia-Sweden military cooperation, we are sending a strong signal to potential aggressors – we can successfully destroy a significant number of your tanks. Thus, we are also strengthening the deterrence capabilities of the whole Baltic region," said Defense Minister Artis Pabriks at the time. AT4 is a light, 84-mm single-shot recoilless smoothbore weapon already used by Latvian army, designed to promote combat capabilities required to engage with enemy armoured and other vehicles, and fortifications.

Latvia's National Armed Forces, together with the Estonian Armed Forces, placed an order 20 May 2020 with Swedish company Saab Dynamics AB for the supply of a new 'Carl-Gustaf M4' anti-tank weapons. "The order for the new Carl-Gustaf anti-tank weapons is a continuation of the cooperation with Scandinavian partners established several years ago. These weapons meet the needs of the National Armed Forces, and have ensured the successful execution of training exercises, as well as expanded the compatibility of our equipment with the arsenal of our geographically closest Allies. Therefore, the decision to modernize the existing range of weapons is natural,” said Minister of Defense Artis Pabriks.

It was planned that the weapons ordered for approximately 1.3 million euros will be delivered to the National Armed Forces by 2022. The number of units was not specified. The new grenade launchers will be used in parallel with the M2 modification weapons previously received from Sweden and Norway. The order was based on a joint agreement between the Swedish Defense Equipment Administration, the Estonian Defense Investment Center and Saab Dynamics AB, which was signed in 2018.

The Carl-Gustaf M4 launchers are lighter, at less than 7 kilos, and more compact than the M2 weapons currently available to the National Armed Forces, enhancing the infantry's ability to perform the necessary combat maneuvers, as well as carry more ammunition. The latest Carl Gustaf modifications incorporate electronic components and a wide range of ammunition allowing the destruction of armor, fortifications and personnel, as well as providing smoke screens or flares on the battlefield.