NATO’s DiBaX to return to Latvia for 5th anniversary with biggest edition yet
Marking its fifth anniversary, Digital Backbone Experimentation (DiBaX) will return to Latvia in October 2026, where the experimentation program has been held annually since 2022. This year’s edition will take place across two locations – Military Base Ādaži and the Military Base Sēlija – bringing together twice as many partners and a significantly broader operational and technological scope.
The upcoming edition will build on DiBaX’s core mission: testing and validating the digital infrastructure needed for secure, resilient, and interoperable NATO operations. In 2026, DiBaX will further broaden its operational and technological scope, advancing the integration of sensors and effectors with heightened emphasis on the sensing capabilities needed to detect, identify, and respond to emerging threats.
Together, these elements will enable experimentation across the full chain of modern defence capability – from detecting threats, to making faster and better-informed decisions and enabling effective response.
“In the DiBaX 2026, for the fifth consecutive year, the National Armed Forces, together with the defence industry, will utilize the latest innovation systems to seek solutions for current security challenges, thereby strengthening NATO's capability to identify, respond to, and deter potential threats,” states Minister of Defence Raivis Melnis.
In May, over 30 partners gathered in Riga for a planning session hosted by LMT Defence, including representatives from NATO, national defence institutions, industry, and technology partners.
As the technology integrator and co-host, LMT Defence will continue to provide critical infrastructure, technical expertise, and experimentation support. As such, LMT Defence is consolidating the competences of critical infrastructure operators to support the development and testing of layered counter-drone systems, helping form a more robust and connected national defence layer.
"Latvia’s experience in creating and developing a 5G military testbed, along with LMT Defence role as a technology integrator, has allowed Latvia to become a key partner in strengthening NATO’s digital capabilities. In the fifth anniversary year of DiBaX, we have the honor of hosting twice as many partners as in 2025 and of contributing to the development and execution of increasingly complex technological scenarios. Naturally, the goal is to create real, viable solutions for modern asymmetric threats, particularly in the field of counter-drone defence," emphasizes LMT Vice President Ingmārs Pūķis.
Potential activities for the 2026 edition include experimental field tests, network infrastructure trials, and integrated scenarios involving sensors, communication systems, unmanned systems, decision-support tools, and defensive counter-UAS capabilities.
Latvia’s role as the recurring host country has been central to DiBaX’s development. The country’s 5G military test environment, close cooperation between defence and industry, and experience in hosting multinational technology experimentation have made it a practical platform for NATO’s digital capability development.
DiBaX 2026 is led by NATO Allied Command Transformation in cooperation with the Latvian Ministry of Defence and the Latvian National Armed Forces, with LMT Defence serving as the experiment’s technology integrator.
About DiBaX
DiBaX is NATO’s annual experimentation programme designed to test and showcase next-generation digital technologies and their military applications. The programme brings together NATO, member nations, defence experts, industry partners, and technology providers to test secure, resilient, and interoperable communication capabilities in realistic operational environments.
Information prepared by:
MoD Military Public Affairs Department
Media Relations Section
Phone: 67335067
E-mail: prese@mod.gov.lv
