Latvian and German companies sign memorandum on maintenance of air defense systems in Baltics

RIGA - Latvian and German companies have signed a memorandum on the maintenance of the IRIS-T mid-range air defense systems in the Baltics, LETA was told at the Latvian Defense Ministry.

The memorandum of understanding was signed by Diehl Defence, a German defense industry company, and Ripo Repair Centre, a Latvian company. According to Firmas.lv, the owners of Ripo Repair Centre, which is active in the field of vehicle repair and maintenance, are Dzintars Balodis (40.2 percent) and Ivo Rubins (26.8 percent), while the remaining 33 percent of the company is owned by Ripo Serviss, whose key owners are also Balodis and Rubins. In 2024, the company had a turnover of EUR 1.215 million and a profit of EUR 103,585.

The memorandum defines the principles of cooperation and confirms the intention of both parties to establish a joint venture to provide maintenance, repair and technical support services for the IRIS-T air defense system in the Baltic states.

The document serves as a strategic framework for cooperation and a declaration of intent, marking the readiness of both companies to develop long-term industrial cooperation and strengthen the capacity of the local defense industry. The planned cooperation will contribute to the availability of critical military technologies, the operational maintenance of the systems, and the strengthening of the defense capabilities of the Baltic states.

This memorandum is an important step not only in strengthening the security of Latvian airspace, but also in the development of the domestic defense industry, the Defense Ministry said. It will ensure swift technical support for the air defense systems, promote technology transfer, and strengthen the combat readiness of the Latvian armed forces, so that in a crisis. they can rely fully on local experts.

On Monday, Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds (Progressives) made a visit to Berlin, where he met with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.

On November 30, 2023, the Ministry of Defense signed a supply contract with the German company Diehl Defence for the purchase of the IRIS-T medium-range air defense system.

The EUR 600 million supply contract provides for the purchase of equipment for the effective operation of the IRIS-T system, which will ensure the implementation of layered air defense in Latvia.