List of equipment of the Latvian Land Forces explained

This is a list of equipment used by the Latvian Land Forces.

Personal equipment

The equipment of the Latvian Land Forces troops includes:

• LatPat, Multi-LatPat and WoodLatPat (Latvian digital camouflage uniform).
• Norwegian BEAR-II load bearing armor system
• Kevlar helmets
• Night vision devices

Infantry weapons

Model	Image	Origin	Variant	Caliber	Details
Pistols
			Glock 17 Glock 19 Glock 21 Glock 26		Standard issue pistol.^[1] ^[2] ^[3]
Heckler & Koch P2A1			Flare gun	26.5mm	Complementary order in 2024^[4]
Submachine guns
			UMP9		Standard issue submachine gun.
			MP5A3
			MP7A2
Shotguns
			MCS
					Is going to be replaced.
					Is going to be replaced.
Assault rifles and Rifles
			G36V G36KV G36KV3		Standard issue assault rifle.^[5] Complementary order in 2024.
			M16A1		Used by Honour Guard, as ceremonial rifle.	url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/latvijas_armija/sets/72157680138740644
					Used by Honour Guard, as ceremonial rifle.	url=https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02z1HX9zEXu1JvuWgxvPb8FX2x8fx6r7apAa9duwNj5bkunbw7Gw1a4ahN8Jsu2inhl&id=100064486820256
			No.4 MkI*		120 rifles were donated by Canada. Used by Honour Guard, as ceremonial rifle.	url=https://www.mod.gov.lv/en/node/7895
Sniper rifles
			HK417A2		^[6]
					Standard issue heavy sniper rifle.
			AW AXMC AX50 ELR		AW variant used to be the standard issue sniper rifle.
			M107A1
Machine guns
			Minimi Para		Standard issue light machine gun.
			FN MAG Kulspruta 58 B
			M2HB-QCB		^[7]
Grenade launchers
					Complementary order in 2024
		South Africa		40×46mm	Produced initially without license by Metallic d.o.o.
Anti-tank weapons
			SR LR I LR II ER II		Modern tripod-mounted launcher, programmable attack, fire-and-forget. Fires several missile types, varying in weight and size as they fly from shorter to longer ranges.^[8]
			M2 M4	84 mm	Re-loadable, fires a variety of ammunition. M2 variant used by the National Guard.^[9] 800 Carl Gustaf M2 were donated by Norway.^[10] Improved M4 variant on order.^[11]
				84 mm	Light weight, one-shot, disposable.
Unmanned aerial vehicles
UAV Factory Penguin C			Penguin C		Long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles.^[12]
			RQ-20A		3 systems, each having 3 unmanned aerial vehicles.^[13]

Military vehicles

Name	Image	Origin	Type	Variants	Quantity	Notes
Armoured reconnaissance vehicles
CVR(T)			Armoured reconnaissance vehicle	Scimitar Sultan Spartan Samson Samaritan	198	116 modernized vehicles in service, plus 7 used for training. 82 additional vehicles on order - to be delivered by 2022.^[14] ^[15]
Armoured personnel carriers
Patria 6×6			Armoured personnel carrier	Patria 6×6	~100 as of August 2024	Approximately 200 vehicles on order. To be delivered 2021–2029.^[16] ^[17] The first 4 vehicles received on 29 October 2021. Partially built in Latvia from 2021.^[18] ^[19]
Armoured cars
Mercedes-Benz G-Class			Armoured car	290GD	50	^[20]
Humvee			Armoured car	M1043A2 M1113	30 12	Ten vehicles donated by the United States in 2005.^[21] Possibly 28 more purchased later.^[22] Some equipped with HK GMG, M2 Browning and Spike anti-tank guided missile.
Trucks
Mercedes-Benz Unimog			Truck	U1300 U5000	120^[23]
Scania			Truck	P93 NM154	184 8	134 P93 trucks and 8 NM154 recovery vehicles donated by Norway in 2013. 50 more trucks purchased in 2014.^[24]
Light vehicles
Can-Am Outlander			All-terrain vehicle	Outlander MAX 650XT	582^[25]	^[26]
Polaris RZR			Fast attack vehicle	MRZR-2 MRZR-4 MV850	62^[27]	Option for up to 130 vehicles.^[28]
Mercedes-Benz G-Class			SUV	240GD 300GDN	+66^[29] 12	^[30]
Land Rover Defender			SUV	D110	2	D110 variant used by military police.^[31]
Subaru Forester			SUV		23	23 vehicles used by military police
Nissan Navara			SUV		~55
Special vehicles
M3 Amphibious Rig			Amphibious bridge layer			4 on order.^[32]
Bv 206			Amphibious tracked vehicle	Bv 206A Bv 206F		Donated by Sweden in 2002 and 2003.^[33]
Cars
Peugeot 308			Car		~50
Ford Transit Custom			Light commercial vehicle		~35	^[34]

Artillery

Model	Image	Origin	Caliber	Quantity	Details
Mortars
GrW 86			120 mm		Multiple units purchased from Austria in 2017 ^[35]
m/41D			120 mm		^[36]
			81 mm
Self-propelled artillery
M109A5Ö Rechenstellenpanzer M109 Driver training vehicle			155 mm	47 10 2	35 howitzers, 10 command and control vehicles and 2 driver training vehicles purchased from Austria in 2017.^[37] Additional 18 howitzers received in 2021.^[38] 6 howizers were donated to Ukraine.^[39]
Rocket artillery
			227 mm	0 (6 on order)	In October 2022, Latvian Ministry of Defense announced that the country will acquire 6 systems.^[40] The contract was signed in December 2023.^[41]

Air-defence equipment

Model	Image	Origin	Variant	Details
Medium-range air defence systems
			IRIS-T SLM	In May 2023, Estonia and Latvia made a decision to jointly procure medium-range IRIS-T SLM.^[43] The contract was signed in November 2023 and the systems are planned to be operational in 2026.^[44]
Man-portable air-defence systems
			FIM-92 Stinger	^[45] All to be transferred to Ukraine.^[46]
				Undisclosed number of missiles ordered in 2022.^[47]
			RBS 70 NG	^[48]
Radars
			AN/MPQ-64F1	^[49]
			AN/TPS-77 TPS-77 MRR	^[50]

Retired/obsolete equipment

In the 1990s, the Latvian Army and National Guard troops were equipped with leftover Soviet, Romanian and Czechoslovak^[51] weapons like the AKM, AK-74, SKS rifles and TT and Makarov pistols, alongside early procurements of CZ 82 pistols from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In the late 1990s, a gradual switch to the Swedish-made Automatkarbin 4 began, but AK-pattern rifles remained. Today Ak4 rifles are mostly kept in storage.^[52] In 1995, the Czechs donated 20 120mm mortars (possibly the vz. 82 PRAM-L) and 24 100 mm vz. 53 field guns.

Retired/obsolete vehicles include:

• 2 BRDM-2 armored cars (donated by Poland by 1992, mostly used by the Suži Airborne Reconnaissance Battalion of the Land Forces, later used as target practice);^{[53] [54]}
• 5 T-55AM Merida tanks (donated by Poland in 1999.^[55] Three remaining tanks, still used for training purposes, were reported to have come from the Czech Republic in 2000, not Poland.);^{[56] [57]}
• ~12 Terrängbil m/42 KP IFVs (donated around 1994 by Sweden to the Baltic states, retired by the late 1990s or early 2000s; at least one transferred to the State Border Guard).^{[58] [59] [60]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: Par ieroču modeļu noteikšanu un iepirkumu Nacionālo bruņoto spēku vajadzībām . likumi.lv . lv . 28 July 2005.
2. Web site: Faktu lapa "Nacionālie bruņotie spēki" (2008) . www.mod.gov.lv . lv . 2018-08-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180831035309/http://www.mod.gov.lv/~/media/AM/Aktualitates/Publikacijas/Informativie%20materiali/Informativas%20lapas/NBS_2008.ashx . 2018-08-31 . dead .
3. Web site: AM sagatavojusi jaunus armijas ieroču standartus . www.tvnet.lv . LETA . lv . 12 July 2018.
4. Web site: 2024-01-18 . Heckler & Koch erhält Beauftragungen durch mehrere NATO-Länder . 2024-01-23 . soldat-und-technik.de . de-DE.
5. Web site: 2019-11-07 . Triecienšautene G36 – ierocis, uz ko var paļauties. 2022-10-05 . www.sargs.lv . lv.
6. Web site: UNROCA 2021 . unroca.org . UN Register of Conventional Arms.
7. Web site: NBS par 1,8 miljoniem eiro iegādāsies 'Browning M2' ložmetējus . www.delfi.lv . BNS . lv . 21 December 2014.
8. Web site: Latvia takes delivery of new Spike missile variants . janes.com. 7 March 2020.
9. Tupp . Enn . Zemessardze - KASP-i ja Kaitseliidu vääriline partner . Kaitse Kodu! . 2018 . 1 . 34 . Kaitseliit . et . 1406-3387.
10. Web site: 2015-03-20 . National Guard loads up with anti-tank weapons, trucks . 2022-10-03 . eng.lsm.lv/.
11. Web site: Latvia and Estonia Place Orders for Carl-Gustaf M4 . saab.com . Saab Press Centre . 13 July 2020.
12. Web site: Latvia acquires Penguin C long-endurance UAVs. 19 April 2019.
13. Web site: Latvian army with US support to receive EUR 2.4 million worth of drones. 16 April 2018.
14. Web site: NBS saņēmuši visas 2014. gadā parakstītajā līgumā paredzētās kāpurķēžu izlūkošanas mašīnas CVR(T) . sargs.lv . lv . 26 October 2020.
15. Web site: 2021-10-15 . Pabriks ar Lielbritānijas Bruņoto spēku ministru pārrunās bruņutehnikas iepirkuma noslēgumu . 2022-10-03 . sargs.lv . lv.
16. Web site: Latvia orders 6×6 APCs from Patria. Janes Information Services. 1 September 2021. 4 September 2021.
17. Web site: Joint 6x6 programme proceeds - Patria provides 6x6 armoured vehicles for Finland and Latvia. Patria Group. 30 August 2021. 4 September 2021.
18. Web site: 2021-06-14 . Patria’s manufacturing network is growing in Latvia . 2024-02-15 . Patria . en.
19. Web site: 2020-11-05 . Patria to start vehicles’ parts manufacturing in Latvia . 2024-02-15 . Patria . en.
20. Web site: UNROCA original report - Latvia 2015 . www.unroca.org.
21. Web site: Latviešu karavīru draugs "Hummer" . tvnet.lv . 1 June 2005.
22. Web site: Par ASV naudu pirks "Hummer" . apollo.lv . lv . 10 July 2005.
23. Web site: 2019. gadā turpinājās NBS un Zemessardzes vienību bruņojuma modernizācija . sargs.lv . 13 January 2020.
24. Web site: Bruņotie spēki saņem Norvēģijā pirktās automašīnas un ieročus. lv. 31 May 2015.
25. Web site: 2019. gadā turpinājās NBS un Zemessardzes vienību bruņojuma modernizācija . sargs.lv . 13 January 2020.
26. Web site: Bruņotie spēki no Somijas iegādājušies 6x6 bezceļa transportlīdzekļus . lv. 15 June 2018.
27. Web site: Latvijas armija saņems ar ASV atbalstu sagādātus 62 taktiskos transportlīdzekļus. lv. delfi.lv. 6 Feb 2018.
28. Web site: All 47 howitzers bought from Austria are now in Latvia . eng.lsm.lv . 18 October 2018.
29. Web site: 2008-10-28 . Armijas vajadzībām pārbūvēs 66 "Mercedes" apvidus auto . 2022-10-03 . www.apollo.lv . lv.
30. Web site: "Latvijas Avīze" atmasko: Kad galvā lido šķīvīši… . lv . 20 June 2017.
31. Web site: MLR PT.21 ~ LATVIAN MILITARY POLICE D110 SW . joint-forces.com . 28 June 2019.
32. Web site: Latvijas armija iekārtas no ASV 20 miljonu dolāru vērtībā. 2021-12-10. nra.lv. lv.
33. Web site: Kristovskis . Gatis . Latvia to buy parts of used all-terrain carriers from Sweden for EUR 5.7 million . LETA . 12 June 2018.
34. Web site: Armijai 247 jauni transportlīdzekļi – arī ģimenes busiņi un “lendkruizeri". lv. 5 February 2018.
35. Web site: Latvia gets from Austria second-hand 120 mm mortars . leta.lv . 4 October 2017.
36. Web site: SIPRI Trade Register.
37. Web site: ARMOUR FOCUS – NEW LATVIAN M109 SPH . joint-forces.com . 4 April 2018.
38. Web site: Latvijai piegādātas papildu 18 pašgājējhaubices . delfi.lv . 27 July 2021.
39. Web site: 2022-08-15 . Latvia donates helicopters and howitzers to Ukraine . 2022-10-03 . eng.lsm.lv.
40. Web site: Latvia plans to buy six HIMARS systems. 12 October 2022. 12 October 2022. LSM.
41. Web site: Latvia, USA sign HIMARS missile purchase deal. 20 December 2023. 20 December 2023. LSM.
42. Web site: Latvia signs naval missile deal with the United States. 9 December 2023. 9 December 2023. LSM.
43. Web site: Estonia, Latvia plan joint purchase of German medium-range IRIS-T air defense systems. 21 May 2023. 21 May 2023. The Washington Post.
44. Web site: Latvia secures IRIS-T air defense system purchase from Germany. 30 November 2023. 9 December 2023. LSM.
45. Web site: Latvia signs deal to buy 'Stinger' missiles from Denmark. 21 August 2021. 24 October 2021. LSM.
46. Web site: Latvia to transfer all its Stinger MANPADS to Ukraine . mil.in.ua . 21 April 2023.
47. Web site: MSPO 2023: More Piorun MANPADS to be Exported!. 11 September 2023. 9 December 2023. Defence24.
48. Web site: Saab Receives Order from Latvia for RBS 70 Missiles. 8 September 2016. SAAB. 24 October 2021.
49. Web site: Latvia receives two more military radar units from US. 9 August 2016. 24 October 2021. LSM.
50. Web site: First new-generation military radar system arriving. 9 March 2018. LSM. 24 October 2021.
51. Web site: 1995-11-03 . Latvijas armijas bruņojums . Armament of the Latvian Army . 2024-02-15 . periodika.lv . . 27.
52. Web site: Ierocis, kas saistāms ar daudzu 20.-21. gs. konfliktu vēsturi-kalašņikova tipa triecienšautene “AKM" . A weapon with links to many 20th and 21st century conflicts - the AKM Kalashnikov-type assault rifle . 2023-05-10 . Sargs.lv . lv . 2021-07-19.
53. Web site: Likteņdzirnās . Latvieši Vēstures . 2009-10-27 . Latvieši vēstures likteņdzirnās: Izlūkdesanta bataljons (IDB) . 2024-02-15 . Latvieši vēstures likteņdzirnās . lv.
54. Web site: 2008-11-13 . Atjaunotās Latvijas armijas pirmsākumi, 2. daļa . 2024-02-15 . Liepājnieka virtuālie pieraksti . lv.
55. Web site: Soldiering article . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20141008101501/http://www.soldiering.ru/country/guide2003/army-10.php . 8 October 2014 . 9 December 2014 . soldiering.ru.
56. Web site: Rancāns . Jānis . 2018-12-09 . NBS plāno remontēt Čehijas dāvinātos «T-55» tankus . NAF plans to repair T-55 tanks donated by the Czech Republic . 2024-02-15 . . lv.
57. Drāke; Melderis . Roberts; Jānis . 2011 . NBS VAJADZĪBĀM NEPIECIEŠAMĀS BRUŅUTEHNIKAS IEGĀDES PROBLĒMU ANALĪZE UN TO RISINĀJUMS . Problem Analysis and Solutions of the Procurement of Necessary Armoured Vehicles for the NAF . Militārā zinātne . lv . . 4 . 10-11.
58. Web site: 2008-11-13 . Atjaunotās Latvijas armijas pirmsākumi, 2. daļa . 2024-02-15 . Liepājnieka virtuālie pieraksti . lv.
59. Web site: 2012-08-08 . Svenska veteraner-Terrängbil M/42 KP . 2024-02-15 . Lantvärnet . sv-SE.
60. Web site: 2008-01-21 . Armijai zirgus? . 2024-02-15 . Liepājnieka virtuālie pieraksti . lv.