Development of military infrastructure
There are medium and long-term infrastructure development priorities and objectives. Logistics and Defence Investment Policy Department of the Ministry of Defence identifies the needs of National Armed Forces (NAF) and prepares plans for the development of new infrastructure and existing facilities. It also oversees the various planning initiatives and progress towards deliverables. State Centre for Defence Infrastructure and Military Procurements (VAMOIC) is the unit responsible for construction, management/maintenance of defence infrastructure and compliance with environmental standards.
Logistics and Defence Investment Policy Department and State Centre for Defence Infrastructure and Military Procurements are jointly responsible for efficient delivery of critical and strategic defence infrastructure. The two key military bases – Ādaži and Lielvārde – were the main focus in recent years, but development of National Guard bases, Selonia Training Area, State Defence Service and other infrastructure important for national defence capabilities has also begun.
Properties owned by Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence currently owns 283 properties, including 1,205 buildings and 332 land lots with total area of 21,342 ha. Most of the buildings were constructed in 1960s and 1970s, and Ministry of Defence gradually reconstructs the existing stock while also building new facilities. Buildings that are in a dilapidated, physically or technically poor condition, are demolished to make environment cleaner, add new bases and make way for new facilities.
The largest completed and on-going construction projects in recent years
The total amount of public investments into development of military infrastructure reached €80.7 million in 2023, allowing National Armed Forces to continue building necessary infrastructure.
Largest projects in 2023:
- Host nation infrastructure for NATO Baltic Air Policing mission, including new canteen at the Lielvārde Air Base
- Military tent field at the Camp “Ceri”
- Equipment storage facility at the Camp “Alūksne”
- Military tent field at the Camp “Meža Strautiņi”
- New National Guard battalion facilities at the Camp “Aizkraukle”
Phase I of the construction of National Guard Jēkabpils battalion base began in 2023 and continues throughout the 2024. According to plans, Phase I of the construction of National Guard Dobele battalion base will start in 2024. Storage construction continued at the Camp Alūksne in 2023, and contracts for construction of army and National Guard personal equipment storage, as well as reconstruction of Camp Lūznava canteen, have also been signed.
Development of regional training areas also continued in 2023.
“Meža Mackeviči” Training Area will get new bridge over Līksna River in the second half of the 2024. New crossing will ensure full access to the training grounds. There are also contracts for construction of shooting ranges and grenade-throwing field. Project for the construction of additional shooting range in this training area is also in the pipeline and will indicatively be co-financed from NATO Security Investment Programme (NSIP).
“Lāčusils” regional training area completed construction of the tent field in 2023. 600m shooting range designs have also been developed and construction works will be contracted upon conclusion of the on-going tendering procedures.
Law regarding development of Selonia Military Training Area came to force on 29 June 2023. Land for the training area is being currently acquired from private owners along with transfer of plots owned by the Ministry of Agriculture. Sketch designing of the 1st phase infrastructure and overall development of military base is implemented in parallel.
Foreign funding
In 2023 Camp Ādaži delivered two NATO Security Investment Programme (NSIP) projects – construction of life support area (LSA) sanitary building and driving range. According to plans, camp administration building and surveillance tower will be completed in 2024.
Whereas NAF Air Force Base in Lielvārde used NSIP funding to construct new passenger terminal.
Several other NSIP projects important for allied force host nation support and training will be completed by 2026. Funding will be invested into infrastructure vital for provision and strengthening of host nation support capabilities of Latvia.
In 2023, based on agreements concluded between Canada and Latvia, Camp Ādaži built infrastructure financed by Canadian Armed Forces. This project will continue in 2024, resulting in better military accommodation and larger storage capacities.
Ministry of Defence has also established continuous cooperation with Defence Ministry of Luxembourg. Memorandum of Understanding between defence ministries of Latvia and Luxembourg, signed in February of 2020, envisages funding for environmental rehabilitation of military areas around Latvia. Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2021 was updated in October of 2021, offering 6.9 million euro in total for environmental rehabilitation of military sites. Rehabilitation projects in Ulbroka, Ogre and Riga (Daugavgrīva) have already been completed (total cost EUR 429 640), and similar project for NAF Air Force Base worth 3.6 million has gone through contracting phase. In early 2024 another Memorandum of Understanding with Luxembourg defence ministry was signed for construction of environmentally friendly carwash at the Colonel Oskars Kalpaks Military College. This infrastructure will cost 7 million euro in total.
Cooperation with local governments
Ministry of Defence has established on-going cooperation with local governments where key military infrastructure facilities are located. Ministry continues to fund support infrastructure at these locations, helping local governments, for example, redesign and build municipal road networks.
National funding for construction and 2024 projects
The total amount of national funding for construction will reach 65.3 million euro in 2024. More than half of the funding will cover the current contractual obligations in scope of construction projects launched earlier.
Construction priorities of Ministry of Defence:
- Infrastructure crucial for development of defence capabilities
- Development of Selonia Military Training Area
- Development of infrastructure for State Defence Service
- Upgrade of storage facilities
- Upgrade of infrastructure at the Colonel Oskars Kalpaks Military College
- Development of existing National Guard military camps and construction of new bases
- Development of training infrastructure (including shooting ranges) at the regional training areas and locations used in roll-out of national defence training
- Development of infrastructure for national defence courses
- NATO Security Investment Programme (NSIP) projects
This year defence sector plans to continue to develop NAF infrastructure. The main focus will be on capability development projects, development of infrastructure at regional military bases, state defence service, national defence training, storage, military training and exercise locations. This is vital for Latvian regions, which will benefit from stronger national defence capabilities, new jobs and economic growth.
