NATO carried out, for the first time, a broad testing campaign aimed at drones and interception systems in Latvia, bringing together defense companies, military personnel and government representatives from allied countries and Ukraine.
The initiative took place between March 9 and 13, 2026 in the Selônia training area and is part of a larger effort to accelerate the adoption of new technologies on the battlefield.
The exercise is part of the alliance’s Rapid Adoption Action Plan, which seeks to shorten the gap between the development and operational use of military solutions. During the tests, both drones and systems designed to neutralize them were evaluated, including electronic warfare capabilities, high-speed interceptors and detection tools.
According to NATO, the Selonia environment allows simulating real combat conditions, with tests involving fast targets and different altitudes. This makes it possible to validate the performance of technologies ranging from small reconnaissance drones to more robust systems, as well as solutions against aerial threats, such as signal jamming and directed energy weapons.
+China’s J-16D fighter seen with PL-15 missiles in flight for the first time
The initiative is part of a larger network of innovation centers spread across Europe, each focused on specific areas such as cybersecurity, communications and maritime operations. The next testing event in Latvia is already scheduled for May, during an international meeting on drones, when new demonstrations should reinforce the advancement of these capabilities within the alliance.
Source: Defence Blog | Photo: X @AizsardzibasMin | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
“Selia” was taken to the military landfill #NATO Innovation Range test days for unmanned system solutions, which were attended by defense industry companies of NATO countries and Ukraine, as well as military experts and representatives of state institutions.
In cooperation with the Autonomous System… pic.twitter.com/vmdpc6cpQl
— Ministry of Defense (@AizsardzibasMin) March 18, 2026
🇱🇻 Selia – NATO’s innovation and testing platform.
The first testing days of the NATO Innovation Range for drone and anti-drone solutions were held at the Selia training ground – in one place #NATO and Ukrainian 🇺🇦 industry and military experts are testing, evaluating and accelerating technology adoption.
🇱🇻… pic.twitter.com/U0hwaEJCYF
— Andris Spruds (@AndrisSpruds) March 18, 2026
