News story

Latvian army purchases UK armoured combat vehicles

NATO partnership strengthened as UK sells 123 surplus combat reconnaissance armoured vehicles to Latvia.

• From: Ministry of Defence
• Published: 4 September 2014

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

British soldiers with armoured combat vehicles in Latvia (library image)

The highly-mobile UK vehicles have been sold to the Latvian army in a package worth £39.4 million, including their overhaul and refurbishment. The vehicles have previously been used on operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The purchase of these vehicles will allow the Latvian armed forces to better transport infantry, reconnaissance teams, air defence sections and mortar fire controllers as well as provide vital battlefield capabilities including ambulances, armoured command vehicles and armoured recovery vehicles.

Speaking at the NATO Summit today, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:

I am delighted that Latvia will soon benefit from these proven and life-saving battlefield capabilities, including ambulances and command centres.

This is just one way we are supporting our Baltic NATO allies. As a leading member of NATO the UK is keen to restate publicly our support for the collective security of its members and enable our partners to contribute to international peacekeeping and security operations.

The vehicles became available following the strategic defence and security review in 2010 in which they were identified as surplus to requirements as the UK’s armed forces restructure to better meet the challenges they will face in the future.

Published 4 September 2014