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	Type	Caliber	Details
Pistols
Glock		Austria	Glock 17 Glock 19 Glock 21 Glock 26	Semi-automatic pistol		Standard issue pistol.^[1] ^[2] ^[3]
Heckler & Koch P2		Germany	HK P2A1	Flare gun	26.5mm	Complementary order in 2024^[4]
Submachine guns
		Germany	UMP9	Submachine gun		Standard issue submachine gun.
			MP5A3	Submachine gun
		Germany	MP7A2	PDW Personal defence weapon	HK 4.6×30mm
Shotguns
		United States	MCS	Pump action shotgun
		United States		Pump action shotgun		Is going to be replaced.
		United States		Pump action shotgun		It is planned to be replaced.
Assault rifles
		Germany	G36V G36KV G36KV3	Assault rifle		Standard issue assault rifle.^[5] Complementary order in 2024.
		United States	M16A1	Assault rifle		Used by Honour Guard, as ceremonial rifle.	url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/latvijas_armija/sets/72157680138740644
Precision rifles
Heckler & Koch HK417		Germany	HK417A2	Designated marksman rifle	7.62×51mm NATO	^[6]
		United Kingdom	AW	Bolt action sniper rifle	7.62×51mm NATO	AW variant used to be the standard issue sniper rifle.
Accuracy International AXMC		United Kingdom	AXMC	Bolt action sniper rifle	8.6×70mm
Accuracy International AX50		United Kingdom	AX50 ELR	Anti materiel sniper rifle	12.7×99mm NATO
PGM Hécate II		France		Anti materiel sniper rifle		Standard issue heavy sniper rifle.
		United States	M107A1	Anti materiel sniper rifle
Machine guns
FN Minimi		Belgium	Minimi Para	Light machine gun	5.56×45mm NATO	Standard issue light machine gun.
FN MAG Kulspruta 58		Belgium Sweden	FN MAG Kulspruta 58 B	General-purpose machine gun	7.62×51mm NATO
M2 Browning		United States Belgium	M2HB-QCB	Heavy machine gun	12.7×99mm NATO	^[7]
Protocol service weapons
		United States		Battle rifle		Used by Honour Guard, as ceremonial rifle.	url=https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02z1HX9zEXu1JvuWgxvPb8FX2x8fx6r7apAa9duwNj5bkunbw7Gw1a4ahN8Jsu2inhl&id=100064486820256
		United Kingdom	No.4 MkI*	Bolt action rifle		120 rifles were donated by Canada. Used by Honour Guard, as ceremonial rifle.	url=https://www.mod.gov.lv/en/node/7895
Grenade launchers
		Germany		Under-barrel grenade launcher
		South Africa Croatia		Automatic grenade launcher		Produced initially without license by Metallic d.o.o.
		Germany		Automatic grenade launcher		Complementary order in 2024
Man-portable anti-tank systems
		Sweden		Recoilless gun	84 mm	Light weight, one-shot, disposable.
		Sweden	M2 M4	Recoilless rifle	84 mm	Re-loadable, fires a variety of ammunition. M2 variant used by the National Guard.^[8] 800 Carl Gustaf M2 were donated by Norway.^[9] Improved M4 variant on order.^[10]
		Israel	SR LR I LR II ER II	ATGMAnti-tank guided missile		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.^[11]

Military vehicles

Name	Image	Origin	Type	Variants	Quantity	Notes
Armoured fighting vehicles
CVR(T)		United Kingdom	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.^[12] ^[13]
ASCOD		Spain	Infantry fighting vehicle	ASCOD 2	TBD	In 2024, Latvian Ministry of Defense made a decision to acquire ASCOD to replace the CVR(T).^[14]
Armoured vehicles
Patria 6×6		Finland Latvia	Armoured personnel carrier	Patria 6×6	~256 (~100 delivered)	Over 200 vehicles on order, to be delivered 2021–2029.^[15] ^[16] The first 4 vehicles received on 29 October 2021. The vehicles are partially produced in Latvia since 2021.^[17] ^[18] In November 2024, 56 additional command vehicles were ordered.^[19]
Humvee		United States	Armoured car	M1043A2 M1113	30 12	Ten vehicles donated by the United States in 2005.^[20] Possibly 28 more purchased later.^[21] Some equipped with HK GMG, M2 Browning and Spike anti-tank guided missile.
Mercedes-Benz G-Class		Austria Germany	Armored car (special forces)	290GD	50	^[22] Second hand from Norway
Amphibious vehicles
Bv 206		Sweden	Tracked articulated vehicle (amphibious)	Bv 206A Bv 206F		Donated by Sweden in 2002 and 2003.^[23]
Light vehicles
VR FOX		Latvia	Fast attack vehicle		1 (30+)	Latvian Armed Forces tested 1 VR FOX prototype and in November 2024 Latvian Ministry of Defense made a decision to acquire more than 30 VR FOX vehicles^[24]
Polaris RZR		United States	Fast attack vehicle	MRZR-2 MRZR-4 MV850	62^[25]	Option for up to 130 vehicles.^[26]
Can-Am Outlander		Finland Canada	All-terrain vehicle	Outlander MAX 650XT	582^[27]	^[28]
Logistics
Mercedes-Benz Unimog		Germany	Truck	U1300 U5000	120^[29]
Scania		Sweden	Truck	P93 NM154	184 8	134 P93 trucks and 8 NM154 recovery vehicles donated by Norway in 2013. 50 more trucks purchased in 2014.^[30]
Engineering equipment
M3 Amphibious Rig		Germany	Amphibious bridge layer			2 delivered 2 still to be delivered .^[31]
Utility vehicles
Mercedes-Benz G-Class		Austria Germany	SUV	240GD 300GDN	+66^[32] 12	^[33]
Land Rover Defender		United Kingdom	SUV	D110	2	D110 variant used by military police.^[34]
Subaru Forester		Japan	SUV		23	23 vehicles used by military police
Nissan Navara		Japan	SUV		~55
Peugeot 308		France	Car		~50
Ford Transit Custom		Germany Belgium	Light commercial vehicle		~35	^[35]

Indirect fire

Model	Image	Origin	Type	Caliber	Quantity	Details
Mortars
GrW 86		Austria	Heavy mortar	120 mm		Multiple units purchased from Austria in 2017. ^[36]
m/41D		Finland Sweden	Heavy mortar	120 mm	20~	^[37]
Self-propelled artillery
M109A5Ö		United States Austria	Self-propelled howitzer	155 mmL/39	47	35 howitzers, 10 command and control vehicles and 2 driver training vehicles purchased from Austria in 2017.^[38] Additional 18 howitzers received in 2021.^[39] 6 howizers were donated to Ukraine.^[40]
M109Rechenstellenpanzer M109			Command and artillery computing station	–	10
M109 driver training			Driver training vehicle	–	2
Rocket artillery
		United States	MLRS	227 mm	0 (6 on order)	In October 2022, Latvian Ministry of Defense announced that the country will acquire 6 systems.^[41] The contract was signed in December 2023.^[42]

Unmanned aerial vehicles

Model	Image	Origin	Variant	Type	Role
UAV Factory Penguin C		Latvia	Penguin C	Fixed-wing UAVUnmanned aerial vehicle	ISRIntelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance	Long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles.^[43]
		United States	RQ-20A	Fixed-wing UAVUnmanned aerial vehicle	ISRIntelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance	3 systems, each having 3 unmanned aerial vehicles.^[44]

Air defence

Model	Image	Origin	Variant	Type	Details
Short-range air-defence
FIM-92 Stinger		United States	FIM-92 Stinger	MANPADMan-portable air-defence systems	^[46] All to be transferred to Ukraine.^[47]
		Poland		MANPADMan-portable air-defence systems	Undisclosed number of missiles ordered in 2022.^[48]
RBS-70		Sweden	RBS-70 NG	MANPADMan-portable air-defence systems	^[49]
Medium-range air defence
IRIS-T		Germany	IRIS-T SLM	Medium range air defence missile system	In May 2023, Estonia and Latvia made a decision to jointly procure medium-range IRIS-T SLM.^[50] The contract was signed in November 2023 and the systems are planned to be operational in 2026.^[51]
Radars
AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel		United States	AN/MPQ-64F1	3D air search radar	^[52]
AN/TPS-77		United States	AN/TPS-77 TPS-77 MRR	3D air search radar	Used for the Baltic Air Surveillance Network^[53]
Hensoldt TRML 4D		Germany		Air surveillance and target acquisition radar	Radar for the IRIS-T SML air defence system^[54]
Saab Giraffe		Sweden		Early warning radar

Retired/obsolete equipment

In the 1990s, the Latvian Army and National Guard troops were equipped with leftover Soviet, Romanian and Czechoslovak^[55] 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.^[56] 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);^{[57] [58]}
• 5 T-55AM Merida tanks (donated by Poland in 1999.^[59] Three remaining tanks, still used for training purposes, were reported to have come from the Czech Republic in 2000, not Poland.);^{[60] [61]}
• ~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).^{[62] [63] [64]}

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: 21 December 2014 . NBS par 1,8 miljoniem eiro iegādāsies 'Browning M2' ložmetējus . www.delfi.lv . BNS . lv.
8. Tupp . Enn . 2018 . Zemessardze - KASP-i ja Kaitseliidu vääriline partner . Kaitse Kodu! . et . Kaitseliit . 1 . 34 . 1406-3387.
9. Web site: 2015-03-20 . National Guard loads up with anti-tank weapons, trucks . 2022-10-03 . eng.lsm.lv/.
10. Web site: 13 July 2020 . Latvia and Estonia Place Orders for Carl-Gustaf M4 . saab.com . Saab Press Centre.
11. Web site: 7 March 2020 . Latvia takes delivery of new Spike missile variants . janes.com.
12. Web site: NBS saņēmuši visas 2014. gadā parakstītajā līgumā paredzētās kāpurķēžu izlūkošanas mašīnas CVR(T) . sargs.lv . lv . 26 October 2020.
13. Web site: 2021-10-15 . Pabriks ar Lielbritānijas Bruņoto spēku ministru pārrunās bruņutehnikas iepirkuma noslēgumu . 2022-10-03 . sargs.lv . lv.
14. Web site: Latvia intends to buy Spanish ASCOD fighting vehicles. 11 November 2024. 12 November 2024. LSM.
15. Web site: Latvia orders 6×6 APCs from Patria. Janes Information Services. 1 September 2021. 4 September 2021.
16. Web site: Joint 6x6 programme proceeds - Patria provides 6x6 armoured vehicles for Finland and Latvia. Patria Group. 30 August 2021. 4 September 2021.
17. Web site: 2021-06-14 . Patria’s manufacturing network is growing in Latvia . 2024-02-15 . Patria . en.
18. Web site: 2020-11-05 . Patria to start vehicles’ parts manufacturing in Latvia . 2024-02-15 . Patria . en.
19. Web site: Latvia adds 56 armored 'command' vehicles to its Patria order. 14 November 2024. 15 November 2024. LSM.
20. Web site: Latviešu karavīru draugs "Hummer" . tvnet.lv . 1 June 2005.
21. Web site: Par ASV naudu pirks "Hummer" . apollo.lv . lv . 10 July 2005.
22. Web site: UNROCA original report - Latvia 2015 . www.unroca.org.
23. Web site: Kristovskis . Gatis . Latvia to buy parts of used all-terrain carriers from Sweden for EUR 5.7 million . LETA . 12 June 2018.
24. Web site: 2024-11-26 . Valdība atbalsta ieceri iegādāties Latvijā ražotus militārā apvidus transportlīdzekļus "VR FOX" . 2024-11-26 . Sargs.lv . lv.
25. Web site: Latvijas armija saņems ar ASV atbalstu sagādātus 62 taktiskos transportlīdzekļus. lv. delfi.lv. 6 Feb 2018.
26. Web site: All 47 howitzers bought from Austria are now in Latvia . eng.lsm.lv . 18 October 2018.
27. Web site: 2019. gadā turpinājās NBS un Zemessardzes vienību bruņojuma modernizācija . sargs.lv . 13 January 2020.
28. Web site: Bruņotie spēki no Somijas iegādājušies 6x6 bezceļa transportlīdzekļus . lv. 15 June 2018.
29. Web site: 2019. gadā turpinājās NBS un Zemessardzes vienību bruņojuma modernizācija . sargs.lv . 13 January 2020.
30. Web site: Bruņotie spēki saņem Norvēģijā pirktās automašīnas un ieročus. lv. 31 May 2015.
31. Web site: Latvijas armija iekārtas no ASV 20 miljonu dolāru vērtībā. 2021-12-10. nra.lv. lv.
32. Web site: 2008-10-28 . Armijas vajadzībām pārbūvēs 66 "Mercedes" apvidus auto . 2022-10-03 . www.apollo.lv . lv.
33. Web site: "Latvijas Avīze" atmasko: Kad galvā lido šķīvīši… . lv . 20 June 2017.
34. Web site: MLR PT.21 ~ LATVIAN MILITARY POLICE D110 SW . joint-forces.com . 28 June 2019.
35. Web site: Armijai 247 jauni transportlīdzekļi – arī ģimenes busiņi un “lendkruizeri". lv. 5 February 2018.
36. Web site: Latvia gets from Austria second-hand 120 mm mortars . leta.lv . 4 October 2017.
37. Web site: SIPRI Trade Register.
38. Web site: ARMOUR FOCUS – NEW LATVIAN M109 SPH . joint-forces.com . 4 April 2018.
39. Web site: Latvijai piegādātas papildu 18 pašgājējhaubices . delfi.lv . 27 July 2021.
40. Web site: 2022-08-15 . Latvia donates helicopters and howitzers to Ukraine . 2022-10-03 . eng.lsm.lv.
41. Web site: Latvia plans to buy six HIMARS systems. 12 October 2022. 12 October 2022. LSM.
42. Web site: Latvia, USA sign HIMARS missile purchase deal. 20 December 2023. 20 December 2023. LSM.
43. Web site: Latvia acquires Penguin C long-endurance UAVs . 19 April 2019.
44. Web site: Latvian army with US support to receive EUR 2.4 million worth of drones . 16 April 2018.
45. Web site: Latvia signs naval missile deal with the United States. 9 December 2023. 9 December 2023. LSM.
46. Web site: Latvia signs deal to buy 'Stinger' missiles from Denmark. 21 August 2021. 24 October 2021. LSM.
47. Web site: Latvia to transfer all its Stinger MANPADS to Ukraine . mil.in.ua . 21 April 2023.
48. Web site: MSPO 2023: More Piorun MANPADS to be Exported!. 11 September 2023. 9 December 2023. Defence24.
49. Web site: Saab Receives Order from Latvia for RBS 70 Missiles. 8 September 2016. SAAB. 24 October 2021.
50. 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.
51. Web site: Latvia secures IRIS-T air defense system purchase from Germany. 30 November 2023. 9 December 2023. LSM.
52. Web site: 9 August 2016 . Latvia receives two more military radar units from US . 24 October 2021 . LSM.
53. Web site: First new-generation military radar system arriving. 9 March 2018. LSM. 24 October 2021.
54. Web site: 2024-07-04 . HENSOLDT supplies air defence radars to Latvia and Slovenia . 2024-11-13 . www.hensoldt.net . en-US.
55. Web site: 1995-11-03 . Latvijas armijas bruņojums . Armament of the Latvian Army . 2024-02-15 . periodika.lv . . 27.
56. 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.
57. Web site: Likteņdzirnās . Latvieši Vēstures . 2009-10-27 . Latvieši vēstures likteņdzirnās: Izlūkdesanta bataljons (IDB) . 2024-02-15 . Latvieši vēstures likteņdzirnās . lv.
58. Web site: 2008-11-13 . Atjaunotās Latvijas armijas pirmsākumi, 2. daļa . 2024-02-15 . Liepājnieka virtuālie pieraksti . lv.
59. 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.
60. 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.
61. 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.
62. Web site: 2008-11-13 . Atjaunotās Latvijas armijas pirmsākumi, 2. daļa . 2024-02-15 . Liepājnieka virtuālie pieraksti . lv.
63. Web site: 2012-08-08 . Svenska veteraner-Terrängbil M/42 KP . 2024-02-15 . Lantvärnet . sv-SE.
64. Web site: 2008-01-21 . Armijai zirgus? . 2024-02-15 . Liepājnieka virtuālie pieraksti . lv.