Baltic Trust 26 tests drone defence and electronic warfare systems

The active phase of the Baltic Trust 26 military exercise has ended at the Sēlija training ground, LSM reported. Latvian and allied troops tested unmanned systems, counter-drone defence and electronic warfare technologies in conditions close to a real military environment.

Radars, sensors, drone signal suppressors and other equipment were deployed to detect approaching drones early and disrupt their operation. Although much of this activity is invisible, electronic warfare played a central role in the exercise.

“Baltic Trust 2026 focuses on the most complex challenges we face in the security field. We are observing several cases of drones entering NATO territory, so we want to improve our ability to defend against them,” said Kristian Kolman, a representative of the NATO Communications and Information Agency.

The technologies were tested in conditions designed to resemble an actual military environment, allowing participants to assess whether their promised capabilities worked in practice and identify areas for improvement.

The exercise also involved the defence industry, with dozens of companies testing their capabilities. Lieutenant Colonel Intars Bērziņš, commander of Baltic Trust 2026, said the format was unique within NATO because companies were involved not only as equipment suppliers but also in delivering operational effects and services.

Under the arrangement, soldiers carry out tasks while industry provides the required effects using its own equipment, operators and tools. Companies are integrated into the command structure and provide support when needed.

For example, when a soldier identifies a target, an industrial company can use its own equipment, pilots and engineers to act against it with an unmanned system instead of the soldier using military resources and personnel, Bērziņš said.

Several local companies also tested their technologies in cooperation with Latvia’s National Armed Forces and allied troops.