Latvia's Minister of Defense Andris Sprūds announced on Twitter that the country will be receiving its first "Hunter" infantry combat vehicles in September this year. The vehicles, known as "Ascod," have been contracted from the Spanish company GDELS-Santa Bárbara Sistemas, following a contract signed in January of the previous year, which involved the procurement of 42 units for the National Armed Forces.

Additionally, in June, another contract was signed for the acquisition of an extra 42 units, bringing Latvia's total to 84 vehicles. This scale of procurement reflects a strategic enhancement of Latvia's military capabilities, especially as the Baltic state continues to navigate regional security challenges. Notably, Latvian defense industry participation is expected to be at least 30% for the execution of these orders, which may bolster local defense manufacturing.

The combined costs for these contracts are significant, with the additional purchase amounting to 387 million euros and the initial contract costing 373 million euros. These investments underline the Latvian government's commitment to upgrading its defense infrastructure and responding effectively to external threats in the context of Baltic and European security dynamics.