Latvia to Close Airspace Zone Along Eastern Border with Belarus and Russia
Starting from Thursday, September 11, at 18:00, Latvia will close its airspace zone along the eastern border with Belarus and Russia for at least one week – until September 18.
“Russian unmanned aerial vehicles in NATO airspace are a warning signal, and we must do everything possible to prevent an escalation of drone attacks. The closure of the Latvian airspace zone will allow us to fully control the restricted airspace, facilitate the detection of unauthorized flying objects, free up the restricted zone for NATO Baltic Air Policing mission fighter jets and our air defence, as well as enable enhanced testing of acoustic airspace monitoring systems, conduct drone and counter-drone simulations, deploy additional mobile combat units and provide training,” emphasized Minister of Defence Andris Sprūds.
“The National Armed Forces have been carrying out air defence operations in eastern Latvia for a year already. The closure of airspace will accelerate the response of air defence combat groups to potential threats. At the same time, already developed air defence procedures, alerting algorithms, and analysis of data collected by sensors will be further tested,” explained Commander of the National Armed Forces, Major General Kaspars Pudāns.
According to the assessment of the National Armed Forces, there is no immediate military threat to Latvia. However, during the comprehensive national defence exercise “Namejs 2025”, the National Armed Forces remain on high alert. To reduce the drone threat, National Armed Forces air defence units are permanently on duty in the eastern border area to shoot down aggressor-state drones if necessary. The NATO Air Policing mission has also been reinforced, and new acoustic airspace monitoring systems are being introduced. Over the past year, amendments have been made to legislation which, in cooperation with “Latvijas gaisa satiksme”, allow rapid closure of airspace in threatened areas. Additional changes have also been introduced to strengthen flight control in Latvia’s eastern airspace.
It has already been reported that, during the comprehensive national defence exercise “Namejs 2025”, the Minister of Defence has instructed the National Armed Forces to enhance readiness to ensure strengthened monitoring of Latvia’s air, information, and cyber domains, as well as to carry out the notification of all National Guard members in order to determine their readiness to report to their units and perform combat tasks.
The National Armed Forces’ comprehensive national defence exercise “Namejs 2025” is taking place from September 2 to October 8 throughout Latvia. Soldiers and National Guard members from all National Armed Forces’ units are participating, including national defence service soldiers, reserve soldiers, and allied armed forces personnel.