The Latvian and Canadian militaries are conducting a large-scale unmanned aerial vehicle exercise for the first time, taking a remote fighter out of the sky and using it directly on the battlefield.
They are learning lessons from former Ukrainian military and technology companies in a dramatic reversal of training roles, and are trying to adapt new technologies just as the Baltic state is plunged into political crisis over a botched drone strike on an oil depot.
“For me, there is no doubt that drones will come into play,” said Latvian Lt.-Col. Andris Bruveris, commander of the Second Infantry Division, known as the Iron Battalion.
“I use these low-level drones in this operation to carry out different types of missions, from reconnaissance, to continuing kinetic effects against the enemy, as well as support operations, rehabilitation operations, the evacuation of wounded people.”
The Latvian Brigade, working alongside an international team led by Canada, is leading the operation known as Crystal Arrow 2026.
About 2,500 soldiers including Canadians and 500 pieces of equipment are participating in the war game, which is expected to continue until May 15.
While aerial drones are commonplace on Ukraine’s battlefields, the use of remotely piloted vehicles is a new development, and one that NATO countries are striving to fit into their strong command structure and way of doing business.
Bruveris said he immediately saw the benefit when the various fleets — from four-wheelers to large, shopping cart-style systems — were in the hands of professionals.
I believe that these unmanned systems are the future because in a way, they are cheaper than human lives.-Lt.-Col. Andris Bruveris
“I’m doing an investigation, I don’t need to send people behind the lines. I can use drones for that,” said Bruveris. “I believe that these unmanned systems are the future because one way or another, it is cheaper than human life.
It all takes place at the Sēlija training ground, a large forested area far enough away that the highly specialized electronic warfare equipment used there does not disturb the citizens of Latvia.
The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced last month that Ukrainian drones, both in the air and on the ground, have recently participated in local attacks and have taken over positions from Russians without human intervention.
Some experts have questioned the claim, which has been floating around without confirmation on social media for months. Zelenskyy described it as the dawn of a new era of war.
Canadian Lt.-Col. Dan Richel, who serves as the deputy commander of the Latvian Brigade, said that the Ukrainians were at the forefront, but at the moment he does not see ground drones as a solution, or a replacement for the frontline troops.
“I think they are a very important part,” said Richel. “I see UAS (unmanned aerial systems) and UGV (unmanned ground vehicles) as complementary systems.”
One day, Richel said, they will get to the point where they will be able to do independent work.
Missing drones create a political crisis
The question of how much automation there should be in all non-employee systems is one of the issues at the heart of the political crisis in Latvia.
A botched Ukrainian air strike on an oil depot in Latvia last week unleashed its first political casualty over the weekend with the resignation of the country’s defense minister.
This incident is a cautionary tale that shows how easily unmodified systems can be exploited.
Andris Sprūds was forced to step down over his handling of last Thursday’s attack, which involved two Ukrainian jets striking Russia that went astray and crashed in the Baltic states.
No one was injured in the incident, but the region’s premier has called for Spruds to resign, saying anti-drone plans were not put in place quickly enough.
Ukraine’s foreign minister posted on social media that Russian electronic warfare interference deliberately diverted drones from Latvia.
Both Latvia and neighboring Lithuania have asked NATO to increase air defense in the region.
Claudio Palestini, Head of NATO’s innovation and technology adoption section, said on Monday that he could not talk about the situation, but he noted that the western military alliance has been conducting a series of tests and exercises to improve the effectiveness of the interceptor network.
“We are building in every way that we have great readiness and resilience in all areas,” said Palestine.
Announcing his resignation, Sprūds emphasized that much work has been done to improve Latvia’s defense. He described the reaction to the raid as a political campaign against him.
If the drones are diverted, it represents a technological breakthrough in electronic warfare for the Russians – which may be short-lived given the pace of drone development on the battlefield.
Regardless, experts like Mubin Shiekh of tech company CTRL say a fundamental shift in warfare is underway.
“I think we’re moving into that new reality of autonomous warfare and that includes not just drones, but also unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned underwater vehicles and so on,” Sheikh told CBC News in a recent interview.
Russia has denied that it installed Ukrainian drones and has repeatedly denied responsibility for the attack.
The incident on the Latvian border represents a dramatic illustration of NATO nations scrambling to participate in the defense race against ineffective systems.
Although it is not possible to deal with a situation like the incident in Latvia, the Canadian military has started using counter-drone systems in its major naval ports and air bases as part of the development of surveillance of undetected threats.
