Funding Awarded to International Consortium Represented by “State Defence Corporation” Ltd. for Expanding Modular Charge Production Capacity in Europe

To increase the production capacity of modular charges in Europe, including the establishment of an ammunition assembly plant in Latvia, a grant agreement worth EUR 41 million was signed in November 2024 between a consortium of defence industry companies from five European countries and the European Commission for the implementation of the project ROLLO. Latvia is represented in this consortium and project by “State Defence Corporation” Ltd. (the Corporation).

The funding is allocated to one of the largest and most comprehensive projects supported under the “Act in Support of Ammunition Production” (ASAP) – ROLLO (“PROduction of ModuLar charges with TripLe and Double base PrOpellant”, grant agreement no: ASAP-2024-101172125-ROLLO).

Ingrīda Ķirse, Board Member of the Corporation: “It is significant that our partners in the consortium are experienced and internationally recognised companies in the defence industry. Namely, the lead partner is KNDS Ammo from Italy, alongside NAMMO from Norway and Finland, while another KNDS Group company is based in France. This enables Latvia and the Corporation to rapidly acquire the necessary expertise for further development, to proceed as planned with both the establishment of the production facility and the industrialisation of the defence sector. This will, in turn, support the supply of the National Armed Forces and facilitate integration into international ammunition supply chains.”

The implementation of the project will strengthen cooperation between the five industry representatives and their respective countries. As a result of this collaboration, additional modular charge production capacity will be created in Europe, along with a more resilient and efficient ammunition production base.

The five consortium members from Italy, France, Latvia, Norway and Finland highly value the decision to allocate funding for the implementation of ROLLO.

About ROLLO

The objective of ROLLO is to increase modular charge production capacity in Europe. It is funded under the “Act in Support of Ammunition Production”.

At the end of 2023, the consortium, including Latvia, submitted an application to the European Commission under a grant call. In spring 2024, the project was announced as a priority and selected for funding. The grant agreement between the consortium and the European Commission was subsequently signed in autumn.

The project is being implemented by five partners. In Latvia, the “Zero Phase” of the project has been completed: agreements and documentation have been prepared and signed. The “First Phase”, i.e. the practical implementation phase, has now commenced, with the aim of starting and carrying out the construction of the production facility in 2025. Production is planned to begin in the third quarter of 2026.

Given the specific nature of the project and its importance within the defence industry, strict confidentiality is maintained regarding certain details of the implementation of ROLLO.

This information reflects the author’s views only, and the European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.

About the “State Defence Corporation”

The Corporation was established following a decision by the Government of Latvia in November 2023. Its aims are to support the long-term development of Latvia’s defence industry, manage investments in the sector, and coordinate processes related to the production of military goods.

Through these activities, the Corporation contributes to strengthening the supply capabilities of the NAF, supporting the growth of Latvia’s defence industry, and ensuring the security and continuity of international supply chains. The Corporation works in sectors that require significant state involvement and are not served by the private sector.

The Corporation also fosters national and cross-border cooperation and partnerships. The company is a wholly state-owned enterprise, with the Ministry of Defence acting as its shareholder.

MORE INFORMATION
AGNESE KORBE 
State Defence Corporation 
Communication and Stakeholder Relations Manager
+371 29110062 
agnese.korbe@defencecorporation.lv 
defencecorporation.lv
linkedin.com/defence-corporation