Patria has disclosed a strategic partnership with Spanish company General Dynamics European Land Systems-Santa Barbara Sistemas (GDELS) to commence the assembly of ASCOD infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) in Latvia.
As part of this collaboration, the Defence Partnership Latvia (DPL) armoured vehicle production site in Valmiera will undertake the assembly and upkeep of the IFVs.
DPL is a joint venture between Patria and Latvian firm Unitruck. Patria holds a majority interest of 70%, while Unitruck retains the remaining 30% stake in the venture.
The initial batch of these vehicles is anticipated to roll off the production line in June 2026.
Patria Latvia and Defence Partnership Latvia board chairman Uģis Romanovs said: “The assembly and servicing of ASCOD Infantry Fighting Vehicles mark a significant step in the development of our military manufacturing and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities in Latvia. Our experience with the production of 6×6 armoured vehicles, combined with the transfer of technology and expertise from Patria, demonstrates our ability to handle complex and precise military vehicle manufacturing, assembly, and maintenance tasks.”
Earlier in 2025, GDELS-Santa Bárbara Sistemas secured a €373m contract with the Latvian Ministry of Defence to supply 42 ASCOD IFVs to the Latvian National Armed Forces.
The deal process began in early 2023, which includes a pre-selection phase to identify potential suppliers.
This was followed by functional testing of various IFV platform in the autumn of 2023 to evaluate operational capabilities.
Before finalising their decision, the Latvian National Armed Forces also conducted a thorough evaluation based on several criteria including the operational requirements, cost, delivery schedules and others.
GDELS-Santa Bárbara Sistemas vice president Alejandro Page Hernandez said: “The assembly and production of ASCOD components in Latvia will strengthen the security of military supply chains, improve delivery responsiveness, and contribute significantly to the growth of the local defence industry, while also supporting the broader Latvian economy.”
The Latvian IFVs will be equipped with Level 4 Nato-standard armour, automatic cannons, anti-tank systems, machine guns, and advanced technology to improve alertness for military personnel.
Designed for a three-person crew, the vehicles can also carry six fully armed soldiers.
The first operational ASCOD IFVs are anticipated to be ready by autumn 2026.
In May 2025, the Artificial Intelligence Warfare Adaptive Swarm Platform (AI-WASP) project, led by Patria, secured nearly €45m ($50m) funding boost from the EU to strengthen the continent’s defence capabilities.
