Latvian Army Authorized to Use Special Means Against Drones

The amendments stipulate that these devices may be used after ensuring that the unmanned aerial vehicle will not cause harm to people, animals or third-party property after its flight or movement has been interrupted. The decision on the use of special means will be taken by the commander of the National Armed Forces or his authorised official. These amendments supplement the existing regulatory framework on what special means soldiers and national guards may store, carry, and use in the performance of their duties. Until now, the regulatory framework has been mainly adapted to more traditional security threats, but with the rapid development of technology, potential security risks have changed, explained the Ministry of Defence. "Drones are now widely available and can be used not only for entertainment, but also for unauthorised surveillance, information gathering, or posing a threat to military facilities and critical infrastructure. In the future, the National Armed Forces and the National Guard will be able to use special equipment designed to identify, restrict or neutralise them, effectively reducing security risks," said Defence Minister Andris Sprūds (Progressives).