Defense and security company Saab has received an order for RBS 70 missiles from the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Latvia. Deliveries will take place during the period 2016-2017.

Latvia has been an RBS 70 customer since 2004, and in 2015 Saab signed a contract with the Latvian Ministry of Defense for deliveries of RBS 70 missiles. This order is a call-up of an option as part of the previously signed contract, which was announced by Saab on 22 October 2015.

“We are pleased to see the RBS 70 system as a key capability that contributes to strengthening the defense and security of the Latvian nation. The RBS 70 is a modern air defense missile system with flexible design and several upgrade possibilities that meet Latvia’s evolving needs,” said Anna Fröjd, Head of Saab market area Nordic and Baltic.

In June 2016 the Latvian Air Force test-fired the RBS 70 and the latest generation RBS 70 NG during the air defense exercise “Baltic Zenith 2016” held in ŠA.A”de, Latvia. Approximately 90 soldiers and national guards from Latvia’s Air Defense Wing of Air Force Aviation Base and 17th Air Defense Battalion of the National Guard, as well as soldiers of the Air Defense Unit of Lithuanian Armed Forces, took part in the exercise. Read more about the live-firing here.

The Saab portfolio of short-range ground-based air defense missile systems includes the RBS 70 and the latest version, RBS 70 NG. The RBS 70 system has an impressive track-record on the market with more than 1,600 launchers and over 17,000 missiles delivered to nineteen countries.

Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions within military defense and civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents around the world. Through innovative, collaborative and pragmatic thinking, Saab develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs.