Latvia tests Hunter infantry fighting vehicle at Ādaži training ground

Latvia’s National Armed Forces have begun testing the new Hunter infantry fighting vehicle, LSM reported. The vehicle is a version of the tracked Ascod platform developed for Latvia and significantly upgraded to meet the requirements of modern mechanised infantry operations.

The vehicle’s running gear is supplied by a Spanish company, while the remaining components are assembled at Patria Latvia, a military equipment plant based in Valmiera.

Thursday’s tests at the Ādaži training ground focused on counter-drone systems. The Hunter was tested against drone attacks while moving and stationary, as well as while operating together with other counter-drone systems.

The vehicle also worked with specially equipped ground drones that can detect and suppress an opposing drone’s signal. Company representatives and military personnel attended the tests to assess the results and discuss further requirements.

Various technologies are being integrated into the vehicle to give it a wider range of capabilities. The developers have also taken Ukraine’s experience into account, which shows that vehicles without comprehensive protection can be quickly destroyed.

GDEL business development director Victor Lopez Beneytes said no single technology could respond to every threat. He described the system as a layered solution in which different layers can detect threats, with the combination of technologies making the system effective.

The Hunter is also equipped with substantial firepower and is expected to become an important addition to Latvia’s armed forces.