RIGA, Jan. 8 — Latvia began construction Thursday on a new munitions factory in Iecava, a central town, marking the country’s first foray into producing key components for modern artillery ammunition domestically. It’s a move that feels less like industrial policy and more like a bracing response to a world that’s suddenly, and unsettlingly, focused on restocking arsenals.
Baltic State Bolsters Defense with New Ammunition Plant
The project aims to increase Latvia’s and NATO’s ammunition production capacity amid growing regional security concerns.
- The factory, dubbed ROLLO, will manufacture modular propellant charges for 155 mm artillery systems.
- Production will focus on assembly, testing, and packaging—not complete rounds.
- Latvia is the primary funder, with additional investment from the European Union.
- The facility is expected to produce around 50,000 propellant charges annually.
What’s driving this sudden push for more ammunition production in Europe? The war in Ukraine has exposed critical vulnerabilities in supply chains and highlighted the need for greater self-reliance, particularly on NATO’s eastern flank. Increased demand has strained existing capacity, prompting a scramble to expand production.
The project, officially known as ROLLO, will center on a facility designed to produce modular propellant charges compatible with NATO-standard 155 mm artillery systems. Rather than manufacturing complete artillery rounds, the plant will concentrate on the final stages: assembling, rigorously testing, and securely packaging the propellant charges themselves.
“The ROLLO project is a strategic step in strengthening the security of Latvia and Europe as a whole,” Defence Minister Andris Spruds stated at the groundbreaking ceremony. He anticipates the facility will be operational in the latter half of the year, substantially increasing the availability of crucial ammunition.
Latvia’s state-controlled defence company, Valsts Aizsardzibas Korporacija, is spearheading the development, collaborating with Finnish-Norwegian defence group Nammo and the French-Italian arms manufacturer KNDS. The partnership suggests a concerted effort to pool expertise and resources.
Ingrida Kirse, a board member of Valsts Aizsardzibas Korporacija, indicated the factory’s annual output is projected to reach approximately 50,000 modular propellant charges. Most of this production will be allocated to Latvia’s armed forces, with the surplus intended for export to other NATO member states.
Funding for the project is primarily coming from Latvia, supplemented by investment from the European Union. Latvian construction company UPB Nams has been contracted as the general contractor, though the Defence Ministry has not disclosed the financial details of the agreement.
Analysts view this initiative as part of a larger trend within the EU and NATO to bolster ammunition production, fortify supply chains, and enhance defence capabilities, particularly in light of escalating security concerns in the region. The move signals a clear intent to prepare for a potentially prolonged period of heightened geopolitical tension.
