Selonia Training Area receives new drone training and testing facility

On Thursday, 6 June, Defence Minister Andris Sprūds visited Selonia Military Training Area to open the newly completed drone training and testing facility.

“Opening of the drone testing facility is a step forward in completing Selonia Training Area, which will also enhance our UAV capabilities as it will be a place where our drone companies will be able to regularly test their technologies. Drone test facility also opens up new opportunities for scaling up drone  coalition.  This is a site that will regularly be used for testing of UAVs and electronic warfare technologies by Allies and members of the drone coalition. Drones purchased recently through the United Kingdom procurement project will also be tested here at the Selonia Training Area,” Minister Sprūds explained.

Inauguration of Selonia Training Area drone training and testing facility was accompanied by the first ever military exercise that is part of Baltic Zenith 2024 international training initiative. During the exercise, National Armed Force Air Forces and countries participating in the drone coalition tested the compliance of UAV technologies with standards put forward by Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Testing of drones will enhance development of UAV technologies in Latvia, establish full technical capabilities and tactical applications of UAVs, identify improvements that should lead to best available industry standards.

As announced earlier, comprehensive national drone capability development and promotion initiative across all levels of National Armed Forces will receive a 20 million euro allocation this year.

Also, considering industry interest and need to promote the business environment, Ministry of Defence has launched a call for proposals for a grant scheme. Deadline is 21 June. Companies will be able to apply for UAV development and innovation funding totalling € 600 000 euro per application.

As announced previously, drone coalition for Ukraine, jointly established by Latvia and the UK, marked its three months of operation on 14 May. Initiative has so far been joined by 14 countries: Latvia, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Australia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Italy, Canada, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany and Sweden. Coalition is open to new member states. Members of the drone coalition have so far raised more than €500 million, which will be spent to deliver drones to Ukraine.

Great Britain and Latvia have also announced drone coalition’s joint tender for procurement of first person view (FPV) drones for Ukraine. Information about the tender is available on the UK Defence Sourcing Portal. Tender is open for all companies operating in Ukraine Defence Contact Group countries.

MoD Military Public Affairs Department
Media Relations Section
Phone: 67335391
E-mail: prese@mod.gov.lv