State Police drone competition “Tactical Superiority” held in Riga

The Latvian State Police held its drone pilot competition “Tactical Superiority” in Riga on 6 November. It was the second time the event has been organised. Its aim was to test and improve cooperation between drone pilot teams, as well as their readiness and skills in realistic crisis conditions, so that the technology can be used more effectively by the services under the Ministry of the Interior.

Participants and tasks

Ten teams took part, drawn from the State Police, the State Fire and Rescue Service, the State Border Guard, the Customs and Tax Police, and the National Armed Forces.

Teams demonstrated piloting and teamwork skills across nine disciplines. Tasks included overcoming obstacles and neutralising an explosive object. Another task was reconnaissance inside a building, where participants had to search rooms with the help of a drone and locate objects.

Results

In the overall standings, the National Guard's (Zemessardze) 2nd Vidzeme Brigade took first place. The State Fire and Rescue Service team came second, and representatives of the Mechanised Infantry Brigade of the Land Forces of the Latvian National Armed Forces finished third.

Cooperation with Drone House

This year the competition was held for the first time in cooperation with the company Drone House, with which the State Police has signed a cooperation agreement to help develop the skills of future drone pilots. Drone House provided the infrastructure needed for the event, giving participants a chance to test their skills in practice. The State Police says the partnership will open up wider opportunities for practical training of its drone pilots and for strengthening their preparedness.