NATO showcases battlefield AI at major technology event in Latvia

NATO’s largest showcase of new technologies in Latvia is focusing on artificial intelligence and its potential battlefield uses, LSM reported. The NATO FUSE event at the Ādaži military base is the concluding event in the DiBaX 2026 series of trials of new defence technologies.

Three times as many companies from Latvia and allied countries are taking part this year as in previous editions. A technology experiment is also under way, with Latvian and allied troops working with manufacturers for a second week to test drones, communications technology and other defence innovations.

The experiment aims to connect new communications technologies with other military capabilities. Modern battlefields use armoured vehicles, unmanned systems, sensors and communications networks, creating a large volume of information that must be processed and shared to support decisions.

Latvian National Armed Forces commander Lieutenant General Kaspars Pudāns said artificial intelligence could speed up that process by helping forces understand what is happening and use information to make decisions. It can also model different scenarios and suggest possible solutions, but the commander makes the final decision, he said.

Another potential benefit is connecting equipment and weapons systems. Admiral Pierre Vandier, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation, said the alliance’s 32 member countries use many different systems, making interoperability a problem that needs to be addressed.