Latvia has signed a €50 million contract with Germany’s Dynamit Nobel Defence for Skorpion 2 remote minelaying systems, a package that includes AT2+ anti-tank mines, related equipment and training, the Ministry of Defence said on October 22 in Riga. The agreement was concluded by the ministry and the National Defence Logistics and Procurement Centre and is aimed at reinforcing Latvia’s eastern frontier. “The acquisition of minelaying systems is a strategic step toward strengthening our country’s defence capabilities,” Defence Minister Andris Sprūds said, calling it part of a broader plan to harden the border. The ministry added that the deal foresees the participation of local industry and leaves room for other countries to join through their own supply contracts.
Why it matters: the purchase expands Latvia’s ability to slow or block hostile armored movements at short notice, a capability that NATO planners view as central to credible deterrence on the alliance’s northeastern flank.
What the contract covers
According to the defence ministry, the roughly €50 million (excluding VAT) contract covers multiple Skorpion 2 systems, their AT2+ mines and the training needed to operate and sustain them. The AT2+ is the latest iteration of a scatterable anti-tank munition designed to disable armored vehicles, not personnel. The ministry said the deal also promotes “security of supply” by involving Latvian companies in delivery and support, a model Riga has used in other procurements to anchor know-how at home.
The announcement fits a wider spending push. Latvia has committed to lift defence outlays to 5% of GDP starting in 2026, part of a multi‑year response to Russia’s war in Ukraine, the International Monetary Fund noted in its 2025 review of the economy. The IMF cautioned that higher defence and investment spending will raise medium‑term fiscal pressures but said the 2025 budget stance is appropriate given the security environment.
How Skorpion 2 fits Latvia’s border plan
Skorpion 2 is a remote minelaying system that can rapidly disperse anti‑tank mines to create temporary barriers, shaping the battlefield by channeling or delaying armor. Industry briefings describe the paired AT2+ mines as featuring programmable self‑destruct functions and digital mapping so units can record where minefields are laid and clear or bypass them later. The emphasis on timed self‑destruct and mapping reflects NATO practice to limit post‑conflict hazards and to keep friendly forces safe in counter‑moves.
The capability aligns with Baltic plans to build layered border defences. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland have each announced fortification programs—often described as the Baltic Defence Line—combining obstacles, bunkers and pre‑positioned materials so barriers can be erected quickly in a crisis, according to reporting by the Associated Press. The projects do not place mines in peacetime but anticipate rapid deployment if needed.
Legal and policy backdrop
The Skorpion 2 package centers on anti‑tank mines, which are not banned by the Ottawa Convention that prohibits anti‑personnel mines. Latvia has nevertheless moved to exit the Ottawa treaty to maximize wartime options; in April, the Saeima voted to withdraw, citing the deteriorating security environment, Reuters reported. Riga has stressed it will observe international humanitarian law and civilian‑protection rules regardless of treaty status.
In parallel to Skorpion 2, Latvia joined Germany and Norway in a multilateral agreement to procure Panzerabwehrrichtmine DM22 directional anti‑tank mines, with deliveries slated from 2027, according to defence officials quoted by specialized outlets. The cooperative purchase is designed to improve interoperability and speed up supply across NATO allies.
Industrial base and security of supply
Latvia is coupling new equipment with domestic production capacity. In September, the government and Rheinmetall signed a memorandum to build a 155 mm artillery ammunition plant in Latvia through a joint venture, part of a €275 million investment that aims to produce “several tens of thousands” of shells annually and strengthen European stockpiles, according to Reuters and an accompanying company statement. The model mirrors a broader policy to embed local content—illustrated by Latvia’s 2025 follow‑on purchase of Spike anti‑tank missiles, which included a 30% domestic‑industry component—so maintenance and replenishment are less vulnerable in a crisis.
Regional security context
The Baltic states and Poland have sought EU support for large border‑defence projects since 2024, arguing that obstacles, sensors and logistics hubs are essential to slow an attacker long enough for NATO reinforcements to arrive, the Associated Press has reported. The approach is informed by Ukraine’s battlefield experience, where pre‑planned obstacles and dynamic minelaying have repeatedly shaped vehicle maneuvers. For Latvia, Skorpion 2 adds a mobile, fast‑reaction layer to fixed defences and complements other recent buys, including naval strike missiles and HIMARS rocket artillery.
What’s next
Riga has not disclosed the delivery schedule for Skorpion 2, but the contract includes operator training, suggesting the system will be fielded with units responsible for counter‑mobility along the eastern border. The ministry’s statement also left the door open for partners to join the framework through separate supply contracts, which could yield common training and shared spare parts. In the meantime, Latvia’s exit process from the Ottawa Convention and its DM22 co‑procurement signal a shift to layered anti‑armor defenses built around clear legal rules, mapped minefields and timed self‑neutralization.
The ministry’s contract announcement is available in Latvian on its website, and Latvia’s public broadcaster also reported the deal on October 22. Additional background on the border‑defence build‑out and regional funding push can be found via the Associated Press, while Reuters covered both Latvia’s Ottawa Convention vote and the Rheinmetall factory plan. For more regional security coverage, see Read more on Globally Pulse News.
