Ministry of Defense

What Ministry of Defense does

The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Latvia (Latvijas Republikas Aizsardzības ministrija) is the Latvian government ministry responsible for planning and implementing national defense policy, headquartered at K. Valdemāra iela 10/12, Riga. It coordinates the National Armed Forces (Nacionālie bruņotie spēki), the National Guard (Zemessardze), military intelligence, geospatial information services, defense logistics and procurement, military education institutions, and youth defense programs (Jaunsardze). The Ministry operates under an annual defense budget allocated by the Saeima (parliament), which for 2026 reached €2.16 billion (4.91% of GDP), part of a stated trajectory toward 5% of GDP. Its operations are not commercial — it functions as a sovereign administrative body that sets policy, allocates resources, and procures defense capabilities on behalf of the Latvian state.

The Ministry's portfolio centers on centralized defense procurement through the State Defence Logistics and Procurement Center (VALIC) and an Electronic Procurement System, with major recent contracts covering 6x6 armored personnel carriers (Patria, Finland), Skorpion 2 remote mine-laying systems (€50 million, Dynamit Nobel Defence, Germany), and domestically manufactured unmanned ground systems (Brasa Defence Systems, Natrix, LV-Teh). Infrastructure programs include the Sēlija Military Training Area (Phase 1 completed 2022–2025 at €36.5 million across 15,590 hectares; Phase 2 running 2026–2029 toward brigade-level capacity) and border fortification under newly enacted counter-mobility legislation. The Ministry also coordinates Latvia's participation in the NATO Drone Coalition, EU cyber response operations, and bilateral defense dialogues with Canada and the United Kingdom.

The Ministry's revenue model is entirely governmental: it does not sell services commercially and is funded exclusively through parliamentary defense budget allocations. Its distribution channels are institutional rather than commercial — NATO command structures, EU defense cooperation frameworks, and direct coordination with subordinate national defense institutions. It maintains a public communications apparatus (official website, Sargs.lv portal, social channels) and publishes pre-procurement market research to engage potential defense suppliers. Technology is administrative in nature — no proprietary commercial AI/ML or product IP is disclosed — and the entity's competitive position rests on its sovereign mandate and NATO/EU institutional integration rather than commercial differentiation.

Name

Ministry of Defense

Legal name

Latvijas Republikas Aizsardzības ministrija

Website

https://mod.gov.lv

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Latvia is the Latvian government ministry that plans and implements national defense policy, coordinates the National Armed Forces and National Guard, and administers a €2.16 billion (2026) defense budget covering procurement, infrastructure, and allied defense cooperation within NATO and the EU.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

National Defense and Military Administration

NAICS

National Security and International Affairs (9281), National Security (928110), International Affairs (928120)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Defense Acquisition, Procurement & Contracting (BPAIAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Central Government Policy, Strategy & Performance (incl. OMB-style functions) (BPAIAAAB), Defense Infrastructure, Installations & Base Operations (BPAIAHAK), Intelligence (Strategic, Tactical & Technical) (BPAIAHAD)

Keywords

• National defense policy
• Defense procurement services
• Military training infrastructure
• Border fortification programs
• NATO defense coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Riga

HQ country

Latvia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Ministry of Defense plans and implements Latvia's national defense policy, coordinates the National Armed Forces, manages centralized military procurement, and develops defense infrastructure including border fortification and the Sēlija Military Training Area. It represents Latvia within NATO and EU defense frameworks, oversees the National Defence Service (professional military, Zemessardze reserves), and coordinates support for Ukraine and allied cyber defense operations.

Product overview

The Latvian Ministry of Defense operates a comprehensive defense sector offering centered on centralized procurement services through the State Centre for Defence Logistics and Procurement, supported by the Electronic Procurement System and NATO agency partnerships. The portfolio includes border fortification programs, drone coalition initiatives, and the Sēlija Military Training Area for NATO exercises. Additional services encompass market research for defense acquisitions, support programs for Ukraine, and the National Defence Service comprising professional military service, National Guard (Zemessardze), and reserve training. The Ministry coordinates with allied nations including Canada, the United Kingdom, and NATO partners for defense cooperation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Defense Sector Procurement Centralized procurement services for the Latvian defense sector, including goods, services, and construction works for military purposes. Managed through the State Centre for Defence Logistics and Procurement and the Electronic Procurement System.
• Border Fortification Program Infrastructure development and security measures to strengthen Latvia's borders, including counter-mobility infrastructure and border security systems.
• Drone Coalition Initiative Collaborative initiative for drone procurement and development within Latvia's defense sector, supporting unmanned aerial system capabilities.
• Sēlija Military Training Area Major defense infrastructure project providing training facilities for Latvian National Armed Forces and allied NATO units, with shooting ranges, ammunition storage, and logistics facilities.
• National Defence Service Military service program including professional service in the National Armed Forces, National Guard (Zemessardze), reserve training, and mandatory military service.
• Defense Market Research Pre-procurement market research services published on the Ministry website to identify commercial capabilities and market prices for defense acquisitions.
• Support for Ukraine Defense cooperation and support initiatives for Ukraine, including military aid and collaborative defense programs.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and minor.

• PatriastrategicTechnology or Integration · 11 March 2026Latvia's Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Finnish defense company Patria for full-cycle maintenance and repair of 6x6 armored personnel carriers. Complements 2024 lifecycle management agreement between Latvia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Patria. First deliveries expected under a 2021 agreement for over 200 armored personnel carriers, supplemented with 56 command and control vehicles in 2024.
• NATOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLatvia is a NATO member state. The Ministry of Defense coordinates Latvia's participation in NATO defense initiatives including the NATO Drone Coalition, collective defense planning, and allied force deployments. Latvia hosts NATO battle groups and participates in alliance-wide military exercises.
• National Armed Forces (Nacionālie bruņotie spēki)coreOthersSubordinate military command responsible for national defense operations, with the Ministry providing policy direction and resource allocation.
• Zemessardze (National Guard)coreOthersReserve military force under MoD authority for territorial defense and civil support operations.
• Jaunsardze CentreminorOthersYouth military education and patriotic training organization for young people.
• State Real Estate (Valsts nekustamie īpašumi)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic-private partnership for development of the Sēlija Military Training Area. First phase (2022-2025) completed at €36.5 million covering 15,590 hectares. Second phase (2026-2029) aims for full brigade-level training capabilities.
• EU Cyber Response UnitstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerLatvia participates in EU cyber defense cooperation, including operations supporting allied nations' cybersecurity resilience.
• CanadastrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilateral defense consultations between Latvian and Canadian defense officials, including discussions on defense priorities and cooperation.
• United KingdomstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilateral defense cooperation discussions between Latvian and UK defense officials, strengthening allied defense relationships.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Finnish Ministry of Defence (Puolustusministeriö): NATO partner and direct counterparty in the multi-national Patria APC lifecycle agreement; comparable governance model and recent NATO accession trajectory creates closely aligned defense modernization profile.
• Norwegian Ministry of Defence (Forsvarsdepartementet): Nordic defense ministry with comparable NATO high-readiness posture, similar small-population defense model, and active bilateral cooperation with Baltic states.
• Danish Ministry of Defence (Forsvarsministeriet): Co-participant in the Latvia-Finland-Sweden-Denmark Patria lifecycle management agreement; similar Nordic defense cooperation model and defense industrial cooperation profile.
• Polish Ministry of National Defence: Larger NATO eastern-flank defense ministry facing the same Russian threat posture; serves as a relevant scale-up peer for procurement scale and brigade-level modernization approach.
• Swedish Ministry of Defence (Försvarsdepartementet): Co-participant in the multi-national Patria APC program with Latvia; similar Nordic-Baltic defense cooperation framework and shared Baltic Sea regional security interests.
• Estonian Ministry of Defence (Kaitseministeerium): Baltic neighbor operating under identical NATO eastern-flank threat conditions, similar population/GDP scale, comparable budget-to-GDP ratio, and equivalent mandate for national defense policy and military procurement.
• Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence: Baltic neighbor with near-identical defense policy structure, NATO collective defense participation, and a similar procurement pipeline for armored vehicles, drones, and border fortification.

Broad incumbents

• Federal Ministry of Defence of Germany (BMVg): Supplier-country counterpart for the Dynamit Nobel Defence Skorpion 2 contract and broader NATO framework partner; much larger scale and broader portfolio, but operates the same defense policy/procurement mandate.
• Canadian Department of National Defence: Bilateral consultation partner (June 2026) and lead-nation framework participant in NATO Latvia battlegroup; same defense policy mandate at much larger geographic and budget scale.
• United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (MOD): Bilateral defense cooperation partner with active consultations (June 2026); operates the same defense policy/administration mandate at vastly larger scale and is a NATO framework anchor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aizsardzibasmin
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/LatvijasArmija
• Facebookfacebook.com/Aizsardzibasministrija
• Instagraminstagram.com/aizsardzibasministrija
• TikToktiktok.com/@latvijas_armija

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments1 record

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Frequently asked questions about Ministry of Defense