British armoured vehicles on military parade in Latvia
British soldiers took part in 4 May Military parade in Valmiera to demonstrate armoured vehicles the Latvian state plans to purchase
The parade celebrating the Restoration of Independence of Latvia offered an opportunity for the Latvian public to see three British combat reconnaissance vehicles – the Samson, Scimitar and Spartan - at first hand.
Latvia has identified these models, along with the Samaritan and Sultan, as a cost-effective platform to mechanise their infantry brigade and offer additional capability.
A letter of intent regarding the purchase of British vehicles was signed in February, at a meeting between the Latvian Minister of Defence, Raimonds Vejonis, and the UK Secretary of State for Defence, Philip Hammond. It is expected that Latvia will purchase a total of 123 units, in a contract worth many millions of Euros.