Latvia Tested Drone Interceptors Against Shahed-Like UAVs

During the NATO Baltic Trust 26 exercises at the “Selija” training ground in Latvia, counter-drone systems, including interceptor drones, were tested.

A video showing the interception of a target drone was published by the Latvian Ministry of Defense.

Approximately 650 personnel from Latvia, NATO member states, and partner nations, including Ukraine, Australia, and Japan, participated in the exercises.

In addition, representatives of the technology industry from several European Union countries joined the maneuvers. Armed forces specialists tested their developments and projects under real-world conditions.

“Drone technology and countermeasures are evolving very rapidly. Just as important as the technology itself is the ability of different systems to work together effectively,” the ministry stated.

During the exercises, radars, sensors, cameras, electronic warfare systems, and other solutions designed to detect, track, and neutralize drones were tested.

In addition, the exercises tested a format unique to NATO that involves the private sector not only as an equipment supplier but also as a direct provider of necessary services and capabilities.

Under this concept, once a target is detected, military personnel can delegate the task of engaging it to industry representatives. To do so, companies will use their own equipment and unmanned systems, as well as deploy their own pilots and engineers.

In late July, Ukraine and Latvia signed a series of memoranda of understanding that expand cooperation in the development of unmanned systems.

The goal of this cooperation is to attract investment in UAV production, transfer Ukrainian technologies, and establish modern dual-use infrastructure in Latvia for testing these systems.

The memorandums formalized cooperation in this area between the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Economy, the Latvian Investment and Development Agency, Baltic Forces Ltd., Ukrainian partners, as well as Riga Technical University and the Latvian Association of Military Technologies, Drones, and Robotics.

And in late June, it was reported that Latvia, together with Ukraine, plans to establish a joint drone production facility in the border region of Latgale.