Latvia Vulnerable to Russian Air Assault, Expert Claims

Urgent action needed to bolster defenses, including domestic drone production.

Without significant upgrades, **Latvia’s** air defenses are insufficient to repel a large-scale attack from Russian drones or missiles, according to a leading military technology expert. Calls are growing for immediate action to address the critical vulnerability.

Defense Gaps Exposed

Existing systems, such as IRIS-T, are not enough, according to **Artis Pabriks**, head of the Northern Europe Policy Centre. **Pabriks** argues that these costly, medium-range systems are produced in limited quantities, while **Latvia** needs a more comprehensive and adaptable defense strategy.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies notes that drone warfare is rapidly evolving, presenting complex challenges to traditional air defense systems (CSIS, 2024).

Call for Reforms

**Pabriks** urged the **Latvian** Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence to accelerate critical reforms. He stressed the importance of developing diverse counter-drone technologies, incorporating both electronic and physical methods, and fostering domestic drone production.

“We can’t afford to wait for the NATO summit; in fact, we should have done this already.”

—Artis Pabriks, Head of the Northern Europe Policy Centre

GPS Signal Disruptions

This warning comes amid rising concerns about GPS signal disruptions in **Latvian** airspace, potentially hindering navigation and defense capabilities. A sharp increase in these disruptions has been recently reported.

Read also: Sharp increase in GPS signal disruptions in Latvian airspace