Latvia’s Armed Forces will never have an absolute capability to counter threats from the air, said Andris Sprūds in an interview on the Latvian Television program Rīta panorāma.
He noted that Latvia is doing everything possible to detect and counter drones, but “a drone wall will never be made of stone or concrete—just like Iron Dome is neither iron nor a dome, but a set of capabilities.” This is a reality that must be acknowledged; however, these capabilities must be continuously developed, which Latvia is actively doing, the minister emphasized.
Sprūds pointed out that since the beginning of the year, Latvia’s Armed Forces have had access to domestically produced interceptor drones, and at least 500 more such units are planned to be acquired this year.
Speaking about the development of the unmanned aerial vehicle industry, the politician noted that Latvia has already achieved significant progress in this field. Looking ahead, the
country should focus on the development and implementation of autonomous systems,
which would enhance security and, if necessary, could replace human involvement.
This will require highly qualified specialists, but the good news is that Latvian companies are increasingly able to attract such talent, including from the international market, the minister said.
Sprūds repeatedly stressed that while Latvia can be proud of its achievements in the drone industry, it must not become complacent. The country’s defence must strive for self-sufficiency, and there is no room for self-satisfaction in this area.
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