Latvia to Buy 42 ASCOD Infantry Fighting Vehicles from Spain for €373 Million under NATO Standards

Latvia has signed a contract with Spain for the supply of 42 ASCOD infantry fighting vehicles for the national armed forces, worth €373 million. The infantry fighting vehicles are equipped with the fourth level of armour according to NATO standards, an automatic cannon, anti-tank weapons, a machine gun and other modern technologies that will allow soldiers to see the battlefield. The combat vehicle is designed for a crew of three soldiers and is capable of transporting and landing six soldiers in full combat gear.

The contract was signed on Thursday, 30 January, in the presence of Defence Minister Andris Sprudas, Major General Andis Dilans, Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence and Vice President of the Spanish company GDELS-Santa Barbara Sistemas Alejandro Page Hernandez.

‘The contract for the purchase of new and modern infantry fighting vehicles marks a new stage in the mechanisation of the Latvian Army's Land Forces. At the same time, this is a great event for the Latvian defence industry, which will take part in the supply of new combat vehicles,’ said Latvian Defence Minister Sprūds.

‘We are grateful that the Latvian Armed Forces have recognised our ASCOD infantry fighting vehicle as the winner of the international competition. We look forward to working with the Latvian defence industry to jointly strengthen Latvia's military capabilities and deliver new vehicles to our customers,’ said AP Hernandez, Vice President of GDELS-Santa Barbara Sistemas. 

As part of NATO's military capability development goals, infantry fighting vehicle capability is being put forward as one of the priorities for implementation in Latvia.