EU drone and counter-drone technology centre to be developed at Latvia's Sēlija military range
A European Union drone and counter-drone technology centre is planned at the Sēlija military training ground in Latvia, to develop and test new defence systems. It will be one of two such centres in Europe, according to European Commission representative Valdis Dombrovskis.
The European Union plans to develop a drone and counter-drone technology centre at the Sēlija military training ground in Latvia, where new defence systems will be developed and tested. The announcement came from Valdis Dombrovskis, a representative of the European Commission. It will be one of only two such centres in Europe, part of broader efforts to strengthen the continent's defence as the threat from drones grows.
Focus of the centre
The Latvian centre will specialise in aerial and ground-based drone technologies, as well as solutions for detecting, tracking and neutralising an adversary's unmanned aircraft. The second centre, in the Netherlands, will concentrate on maritime security, including unmanned naval systems and countering underwater threats.
New technologies are to be tested at Sēlija, where their performance can be assessed in conditions close to real military operations. This should show how effective drones and counter-drone systems are in practice and whether they meet the needs of the armed forces.
Part of the DECODER initiative
The Latvian centre will form part of DECODER, a wider European defence initiative aimed at developing drone and counter-drone systems and boosting their production in Europe. The project seeks to ensure that technologies created in different countries can work together effectively and be introduced into armed forces more quickly.
"European security begins with our ability to act together and decisively," Dombrovskis said. He noted that, because of the growing drone threat, Europe must invest more purposefully in defence, develop new technologies and strengthen cooperation with Ukraine and NATO.
First step toward a network
The two centres are to be the first step in building a broader network of European drone technology centres, bringing together the expertise of national armed forces, scientists and technology companies. Latvia's involvement will allow it to become one of the developers of this European defence initiative.
