Patria has opened a new armoured vehicle production facility in Valmiera, Latvia. This marks the start of full-cycle production of Patria 6×6 armoured vehicles in Latvia, the first and so far, the only one in the Baltics. Defence Partnership Latvia, a Patria majority-owned joint venture with a local Latvian partner Unitruck, manages Patria’s Latvian production operations and the facility. Latvian Ministry of Defence ordered in 2021 more than 200 Patria 6×6 armoured vehicles for delivery by 2029. This cooperation agreement strengthens the combat capabilities of the Latvian National Armed Forces (NAF) as well as contributes to the development of Latvian defence technological and industrial base.
“The local Patria 6×6 project creates the conditions for a development breakthrough in the Latvian defence industry. Our new facility will focus on the delivery of armoured personnel carriers ordered by the Latvian National Armed Forces, but we are actively working to ensure that our facility also implements other capability development projects of the NAF and produces military equipment for the defence forces of other countries,” says U?is Romanovs, Chairman of the Board of Defence Partnership Latvia, and Patria Latvia.
“Patria has more than four decades of experience in developing and delivering state-of-the-art protected vehicles for troop transportation and system integration. Patria’s success in its market-leading armoured vehicles and related programmes, in which the unique, joint Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) programme plays the key role, drives the opening of this new facility in Latvia,” says Esa Rautalinko, President and CEO of Patria.
Patria 6×6 (Patria XA-300) is a six-wheeled armoured personnel carrier produced by the Finnish defence industry company Patria. Patria 6×6 chassis is based on Patria AMVXP structures and components. Patria 6×6 vehicle was chosen as the platform for the CAVS programme, participated already by Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Germany. The CAVS-related Patria 6×6 deliveries are ongoing besides to Latvia, also to Finland and Sweden, and vehicles are in operational use. Patria has already received orders for nearly 700 Patria 6×6 vehicles. Available weapons range from machine gun up to 25/30 mm medium calibre direct fire weapon systems and Patria Nemo 120 mm turreted mortar system. The programme is open to European countries with similar equipment requirements, subject to participating nations approval.
Patria is an international provider of defence, security and aviation life cycle support services, technology solutions and pilot training. Patria provides its aerospace and military customers with equipment availability, continuous performance development as well as selected intelligence, surveillance and management system products and services. Patria’s mission is to give its customers confidence in all conditions, and the vision is to be the #1 partner for critical operations on land, sea and air. Patria has several locations including Finland, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Estonia, Latvia and Spain. Patria employs over 3,000 professionals. Patria is owned by the State of Finland (50.1%) and Norwegian Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS (49.9%). Patria owns 50% of Nammo, and together these three companies form a leading Nordic defence partnership.
