Signal
Submitted
Mar 18, 2026, 13:57 UTC
From 9-13 March 2026, NATO began testing counter-drone technologies at its Innovation Range in Latvia, gathering NATO Allies, Ukraine, and government representatives for the first TEVV campaign.
Between 9 and 13 March 2026, NATO's Innovation Range in Latvia hosted its inaugural Testing, Evaluation, Verification, and Validation campaign focusing on Unmanned Aircraft Systems and counter-UAS technologies. The event brought together defence companies from NATO member states and Ukraine, alongside operational and governmental participants, at the Sēlija Military Training Area. This site allows testing of high-speed, high-altitude interceptor flights and electronic warfare solutions in an open environment. The Latvian Innovation Range is one of five pilot ranges established under NATO’s Rapid Adoption Action Plan to speed up innovation in military technology. Further testing activities are planned for 2026, including a major event during the International Drone Summit in Riga on 27 May.
Confidence: High
The event describes NATO's defensive effort through technology testing and evaluation involving Allies and Ukraine to enhance counter-drone capabilities, showing clear defense preparation with no aggressor actions reported.
Source URL
https://nato.int/en/news-and-events/articles/news/2026/03/18/new-nato-innovation-range-starts-counter-drone-technology-testing-in-latvia
Published as a Defense Preparations signal with a public source and reviewer-approved assessment bands. See the methodology for how records are assessed.
{
"id": "1e4f4a01-b6a7-48a5-9397-defb676b9a4a",
"url": "https://nato.int/en/news-and-events/articles/news/2026/03/18/new-nato-innovation-range-starts-counter-drone-technology-testing-in-latvia",
"source": "extension",
"status": "approved",
"category": "Military & Paramilitary Operations",
"subcategory": "High-Tech Military Tools",
"incident_type": "Drone swarms & UAV surveillance",
"country": "Latvia",
"source_reliability": "B",
"info_credibility": "3",
"tags": [
"nato",
"defense preparations",
"counter-drone technology",
"unmanned aircraft systems",
"nato innovation range",
"latvia",
"rapid adoption action plan",
"tevv campaign",
"electronic warfare",
"ukraine",
"military technology testing"
],
"nodes": [
"Node 3: Political Disruptions"
],
"countries": [],
"where_text": "Land",
"headline": "New NATO Innovation Range begins counter-drone technology testing in Latvia",
"description": "From 9 to 13 March 2026, NATO launched its first Testing, Evaluation, Verification, and Validation (TEVV) campaign on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Counter-UAS technologies at the Innovation Range for uncrewed systems in Latvia. Defence industry companies from NATO Allies and Ukraine, along with operational users and government representatives, gathered at the Sēlija Military Training Area for this initial testing and evaluation activity, which is part of a series planned throughout 2026. The site allows for high-speed and high-altitude interceptor flights and testing of various electronic warfare solutions in an open environment. This range is one of five pilot NATO Innovation Ranges established under the Rapid Adoption Action Plan (RAAP), aiming to accelerate the adoption of innovative technologies across operational domains. Additional testing campaigns are scheduled, including one at the International Drone Summit in Riga on 27 May 2026.",
"summary_short": "From 9-13 March 2026, NATO began testing counter-drone technologies at its Innovation Range in Latvia, gathering NATO Allies, Ukraine, and government representatives for the first TEVV campaign.",
"summary_extended": "Between 9 and 13 March 2026, NATO's Innovation Range in Latvia hosted its inaugural Testing, Evaluation, Verification, and Validation campaign focusing on Unmanned Aircraft Systems and counter-UAS technologies. The event brought together defence companies from NATO member states and Ukraine, alongside operational and governmental participants, at the Sēlija Military Training Area. This site allows testing of high-speed, high-altitude interceptor flights and electronic warfare solutions in an open environment. The Latvian Innovation Range is one of five pilot ranges established under NATO’s Rapid Adoption Action Plan to speed up innovation in military technology. Further testing activities are planned for 2026, including a major event during the International Drone Summit in Riga on 27 May.",
"actor_primary": "NATO’s Innovation Range for uncrewed systems in Latvia",
"target_primary": null,
"location_text": "Sēlija Military Training Area",
"location_region": null,
"location_coordinates_lat": null,
"location_coordinates_lon": null,
"location_precision": "Approximate",
"is_aggressor_signal": false,
"signal_type": "DEFENSE_PREP_SIGNAL",
"is_hybrid_war_signal": false,
"classification_complete": true,
"hybrid_signal_complete": true,
"classification_confidence": "High",
"classification_rationale": "The event describes NATO's defensive effort through technology testing and evaluation involving Allies and Ukraine to enhance counter-drone capabilities, showing clear defense preparation with no aggressor actions reported.",
"event_time_utc": "2026-03-09T00:00:00.000Z",
"end_time_utc": "2026-03-13T00:00:00.000Z",
"event_time_confidence": "exact",
"created_at": "2026-03-18T13:57:00.221Z",
"updated_at": "2026-11-04T08:35:32.139Z",
"reliability_band": "strong",
"location_precision_band": "approximate",
"time_precision_band": "exact",
"severity_band": "minor",
"attribution_confidence_band": "high",
"attribution_basis": "single_source"
}Source reliability
B
Info credibility
3
Event time
Mar 9, 2026, 00:00 UTC
End time
Mar 13, 2026, 00:00 UTC
Event time confidence
exact
Location
Sēlija Military Training Area
Primary actor
NATO’s Innovation Range for uncrewed systems in Latvia
Country
Latvia
Tags
nato, defense preparations, counter-drone technology, unmanned aircraft systems, nato innovation range, latvia, rapid adoption action plan, tevv campaign, electronic warfare, ukraine, military technology testing
Nodes
Node 3: Political Disruptions
Signal
Submitted
Mar 18, 2026, 13:57 UTC
From 9-13 March 2026, NATO began testing counter-drone technologies at its Innovation Range in Latvia, gathering NATO Allies, Ukraine, and government representatives for the first TEVV campaign.
Between 9 and 13 March 2026, NATO's Innovation Range in Latvia hosted its inaugural Testing, Evaluation, Verification, and Validation campaign focusing on Unmanned Aircraft Systems and counter-UAS technologies. The event brought together defence companies from NATO member states and Ukraine, alongside operational and governmental participants, at the Sēlija Military Training Area. This site allows testing of high-speed, high-altitude interceptor flights and electronic warfare solutions in an open environment. The Latvian Innovation Range is one of five pilot ranges established under NATO’s Rapid Adoption Action Plan to speed up innovation in military technology. Further testing activities are planned for 2026, including a major event during the International Drone Summit in Riga on 27 May.
Confidence: High
The event describes NATO's defensive effort through technology testing and evaluation involving Allies and Ukraine to enhance counter-drone capabilities, showing clear defense preparation with no aggressor actions reported.
Source URL
https://nato.int/en/news-and-events/articles/news/2026/03/18/new-nato-innovation-range-starts-counter-drone-technology-testing-in-latvia
Published as a Defense Preparations signal with a public source and reviewer-approved assessment bands. See the methodology for how records are assessed.
{
"id": "1e4f4a01-b6a7-48a5-9397-defb676b9a4a",
"url": "https://nato.int/en/news-and-events/articles/news/2026/03/18/new-nato-innovation-range-starts-counter-drone-technology-testing-in-latvia",
"source": "extension",
"status": "approved",
"category": "Military & Paramilitary Operations",
"subcategory": "High-Tech Military Tools",
"incident_type": "Drone swarms & UAV surveillance",
"country": "Latvia",
"source_reliability": "B",
"info_credibility": "3",
"tags": [
"nato",
"defense preparations",
"counter-drone technology",
"unmanned aircraft systems",
"nato innovation range",
"latvia",
"rapid adoption action plan",
"tevv campaign",
"electronic warfare",
"ukraine",
"military technology testing"
],
"nodes": [
"Node 3: Political Disruptions"
],
"countries": [],
"where_text": "Land",
"headline": "New NATO Innovation Range begins counter-drone technology testing in Latvia",
"description": "From 9 to 13 March 2026, NATO launched its first Testing, Evaluation, Verification, and Validation (TEVV) campaign on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Counter-UAS technologies at the Innovation Range for uncrewed systems in Latvia. Defence industry companies from NATO Allies and Ukraine, along with operational users and government representatives, gathered at the Sēlija Military Training Area for this initial testing and evaluation activity, which is part of a series planned throughout 2026. The site allows for high-speed and high-altitude interceptor flights and testing of various electronic warfare solutions in an open environment. This range is one of five pilot NATO Innovation Ranges established under the Rapid Adoption Action Plan (RAAP), aiming to accelerate the adoption of innovative technologies across operational domains. Additional testing campaigns are scheduled, including one at the International Drone Summit in Riga on 27 May 2026.",
"summary_short": "From 9-13 March 2026, NATO began testing counter-drone technologies at its Innovation Range in Latvia, gathering NATO Allies, Ukraine, and government representatives for the first TEVV campaign.",
"summary_extended": "Between 9 and 13 March 2026, NATO's Innovation Range in Latvia hosted its inaugural Testing, Evaluation, Verification, and Validation campaign focusing on Unmanned Aircraft Systems and counter-UAS technologies. The event brought together defence companies from NATO member states and Ukraine, alongside operational and governmental participants, at the Sēlija Military Training Area. This site allows testing of high-speed, high-altitude interceptor flights and electronic warfare solutions in an open environment. The Latvian Innovation Range is one of five pilot ranges established under NATO’s Rapid Adoption Action Plan to speed up innovation in military technology. Further testing activities are planned for 2026, including a major event during the International Drone Summit in Riga on 27 May.",
"actor_primary": "NATO’s Innovation Range for uncrewed systems in Latvia",
"target_primary": null,
"location_text": "Sēlija Military Training Area",
"location_region": null,
"location_coordinates_lat": null,
"location_coordinates_lon": null,
"location_precision": "Approximate",
"is_aggressor_signal": false,
"signal_type": "DEFENSE_PREP_SIGNAL",
"is_hybrid_war_signal": false,
"classification_complete": true,
"hybrid_signal_complete": true,
"classification_confidence": "High",
"classification_rationale": "The event describes NATO's defensive effort through technology testing and evaluation involving Allies and Ukraine to enhance counter-drone capabilities, showing clear defense preparation with no aggressor actions reported.",
"event_time_utc": "2026-03-09T00:00:00.000Z",
"end_time_utc": "2026-03-13T00:00:00.000Z",
"event_time_confidence": "exact",
"created_at": "2026-03-18T13:57:00.221Z",
"updated_at": "2026-11-04T08:35:32.139Z",
"reliability_band": "strong",
"location_precision_band": "approximate",
"time_precision_band": "exact",
"severity_band": "minor",
"attribution_confidence_band": "high",
"attribution_basis": "single_source"
}Source reliability
B
Info credibility
3
Event time
Mar 9, 2026, 00:00 UTC
End time
Mar 13, 2026, 00:00 UTC
Event time confidence
exact
Location
Sēlija Military Training Area
Primary actor
NATO’s Innovation Range for uncrewed systems in Latvia
Country
Latvia
Tags
nato, defense preparations, counter-drone technology, unmanned aircraft systems, nato innovation range, latvia, rapid adoption action plan, tevv campaign, electronic warfare, ukraine, military technology testing
Nodes
Node 3: Political Disruptions