Latvia is drawing lessons from Russia's war against Ukraine. Riga plans to allocate €200.54 million in 2026 to strengthen its air defense and €50 million for the development of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities, Defense Minister Andris Sprūds announced at a press conference, according to the Latvian Defense Ministry.
This comes amid military chiefs and intelligence agencies warning that an attack from Russia on Europe could come as early as 2028, as per Politico.
Modern warfare increasingly relies on unmanned systems, such as drones, robots, and remotely piloted aircraft. The war in Ukraine has demonstrated that drones account for the majority of battlefield strikes.
Sprūds emphasized that spending on UAVs is rising from €20 million in 2025 to €50 million in 2026, reflecting Latvia’s strategic priority of enhancing national defense and contributing to European collective security.
He said these investments "reaffirm Latvia’s commitment" to significantly increase the country’s resilience and responsiveness while simultaneously strengthening European collective security.
“Drone wall” and new surveillance systems
A central component of modernization will be the integration of acoustic drone detection technology and new surveillance systems, enabling rapid response to threats and the creation of an effective “drone wall.”
In 2025, Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service Head Sergey Naryshkin warned that Poland and the Baltic states would be the first to suffer in the event of a war between Moscow and NATO.
According to Sprūds, this is a crucial step in protecting the country and establishing a reliable barrier against modern aerial threats, particularly amid growing pressure on regional security.
