Latvia expands CAVS fleet with 56 new command vehicles

By Sam Cranny-Evans, published 14th November 2024. 

Latvia has signed with Patria for 56 command vehicles under the 6×6 Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) programme, bringing the total number of contracted vehicles over 750, according to a 14th November press release from Patria. 

The new contract is valued in excess of 60 million Euros and is the first for the command and control (C2) variant of the CAVS family, with deliveries expected from 2024 through to 2029. “The deep cooperation between Patria, Latvia and other CAVS member nations has yet again proved its benefits in the form of cost-effective and efficient research and development programme which enables rapid manufacturing and delivery process,” Mats Warstedt, Patria’s Senior Vice President of the Nordic Market, said.  

Production is to include the Latvian domestic industry as well as Patria’s Latvian production facility, known as Defence Partnership Latvia, in Valmiera, which delivered its first locally produced vehicles in August this year after opening in May. The factory is expected to produce around 30 vehicles per year, and is primarily serving Latvia’s procurement, which exceeds 200 vehicles – presumably it is greater than 256 with the additional order for C2 vehicles.

The CAVS programme is going from strength-to-strength, with serial production for Latvia and Finland underway, and the first deliveries to Sweden complete. Germany also joined the programme in 2024 raising the likelihood of additional orders. 

Finland has procured a single Heavy variant of the CAVS with modular armour potentially providing protection up to STANAG level 4. Credit: Patria.

Finland placed an initial order for 91 CAVS vehicles in 2023 with options for 70 more included in the contract, the last 29 vehicles under that option were redeemed in September this year for a total of 161 vehicles. Deliveries are expected to be completed by the end of 2025. Finland has also procured a single pre-series Heavy CAVS variant, which comes with additional armour that could provide greater protection up to STANAG 4569 level 4, over the STANAG level 2 armour of the basic hull, and a Kongsberg remote weapon station (RWS). 

Sweden has placed an order for 321 CAVS on top of 20 vehicles ordered in 2023, the contract was valued at 470 million Euros, marking one of Patria’s largest ever orders in Sweden.  In March 2024, Patria signed a contract with Kongsberg for at least 300 of the company’s RS4 RWS to equip Swedish and Finnish vehicles. The Swedish vehicles are called Pansarterrängbil 300. 

Calibre comment

The total order book for the CAVS and the released contract values indicates that the vehicle family may have already generated a billion Euros in sales. It is a strong demonstration of how developing joint requirements and international developments can deliver platforms quickly and at scale. A similar approach is being taken by Sweden, Germany, and the UK in the procurement of 436 BvS-10 all terrain vehicles from BAE Systems. Large combined procurements with few if any changes to the design of the vehicle can help create supply chain stability, reduce costs, and enable manufacturers to plan further into the future. These are just some of the reasons that common procurements are beneficial.