Defence sector’s civilian vehicles gradually replaced

The replacement of outdated civilian vehicles used by Ministry of Defence and government defence agencies, including Latvian army, began several years ago. €7.8 million have been allocated from the budget for replacement of vehicle fleet over 2016-2018.

Civilian vehicles are used for administrative and operational support, transportation of personnel, support of regular forces of Latvian army and units of National Guard, logistics management, planning of training, terrain surveying prior to exercise and explosives ordinance disposal support across the territory of Latvia.

Ministry of Defence and its agencies spent around €5.7 million to acquire 198 various new civilian vehicle in 2017.

Last year, to fulfil the assigned functions and tasks, National Armed Forces purchased two KIA Seed cars, 23 Subaru Forester cars, four Toyota Land Cruiser multi-purpose vehicles, three IVECO Crossway busses, eight BRP Can-Am Outlander 1000 6x6 T3 and Can-Am Outlander Max 1000 4x4 XT-P light ATVs, IVECO 100 E recovery truck, IVECO AT190S trailer truck, IVECO 260 tipper and semi-trailer truck MB Actros.

Youth Guard and Information Centre received two new Citroen Berlingo small utility vans, regular forces of Latvian army, National Guard and State Defence Military Objects and Procurement Centre received nine Peugeot Boxer small utility vans, regular forces of Latvian army, National Guard, Defence Military Objects and Procurement Centre and Latvian Geospatial Information Agency also got 52 Peugot 308 cars.

37 Ford Tourneo Custom minivans and 54 Nissan Navara multi-purpose vehicles purchased in 2017 were handed over to regular forces of Latvian army, National Guard, Defence Military Objects and Procurement Centre and Latvian Geospatial Information Agency and Latvian Geospatial Information Agency.

Based on trasportation needs, defence sector has also acquired single units of specific types of cars necessary for particular tasks and easier fleet management and maintenance. As required by the Public Procurement Law, these cars were bought in an open tender.

Current average age of civilian vehicles used by Latvian army is well beyond 10 years and less than half of army’s civilian vehicles are below 10 years. Purchase of new vehicles will reduce the overall fleet management costs.

Purchase of civilian vehicles in 2017 is the largest such acquisition since 2007 when defence spending was drastically cut and new vehicles were purchased only as replacement of vehicles in critical condition.

National Armed Forces operate all sorts of civilian vehicles, including cars, 8-seat and 17-seat minivans, up to 50-seat busses, 4x4 multi-purpose vehicles, small utility vehicles, trucks that can lift weight of up to 5 tonnes. Departments and agencies of the Ministry of Defence, including the Latvian army, have a fleet of 642 civilian vehicles, which are used for various administrative tasks, logistics and peace-time operations.

Ministry of Defence will continue to add new civilian vehicles to its fleet in the coming years. The target set by the Ministry is fleet, which on average is younger than 10 years and has lowest possible maintenance and repair costs.

Ministry of Defence of Latvia
Military Public Affairs
Press Section
E-mail: prese@mod.gov.lv