► Patria expands its Valmiera production facility in Latvia

On 7 October, the foundation stone was laid for the new Patria Latvia military vehicle production facility at the Valmiera Industrial and Export Park. Until now, only Patria 6×6 armoured personnel carriers have been produced in Valmiera. The new facility will create opportunities to implement other capability development projects for the Latvian National Armed Forces (NAF), including the assembly and maintenance of General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) HUNTER infantry fighting vehicles intended for Latvia.

The Patria Latvia military vehicle production facility will be located in close proximity to the existing Defence Partnership Latvia facility. The new facility is planned to produce Patria 6×6 armoured personnel carriers and GDELS HUNTER infantry fighting vehicles, provide full lifecycle support for these vehicles, and implement other defence industry projects, contributing to the maintenance and development of the military capabilities of the Latvian and Allied armed forces.

“The establishment of this facility is a significant investment in the development of Latvia’s defence industry and the capabilities of the National Armed Forces. Our goal is to build local industrial capacity that enables us not only to manufacture and maintain armoured vehicles locally, but also to strengthen security of supply and resilience. Patria’s experience and the capabilities of the new facility, combined with the expertise of Latvian companies, provide a strong foundation for long-term cooperation that will help strengthen both our own and our Allies’ defence capabilities,” says Raivis Melnis, Defence Minister of Latvia.

“This investment is a clear proof of Patria’s long-term commitment to Latvia and the Latvian National Armed Forces. By strengthening local production, developing expertise, and involving Latvian companies in the defence supply chain, we are building industrial capabilities that support both security of supply and long-term resilience. At the same time, our cooperation with GDELS demonstrates how strong partnerships and local industrial capabilities can help deliver modern military capabilities to the Latvian National Armed Forces faster and more efficiently,” says Panu Routila, President and CEO of Patria.