NATO military staff and officials recently witnessed demonstrations of counter-drone systems at the Sēlija testing range in central Latvia. The event showcased the progress European startups are making in this area, as well as the challenges they face in reliably taking down flying drones.
The demonstrations featured a range of approaches, from autonomous interceptors to jet-powered systems, with some having been battle-tested in Ukraine. Companies such as Nordic Air Defense, Origin Robotics, and Eraser demonstrated their systems, with mixed results.
The need for cost-effective drone counters has become urgent for NATO, as countries on its eastern flank have struggled to fend off multiple drone incursions in recent months. Latvia aims to develop the Sēlija training area into a hub for testing and validating counter-drone technologies, and has signed a letter of intent with the Netherlands to allow the Dutch armed forces to use the range for exercises and testing.
