RIGA, Sept 3 (LETA) - The National Armed Forces are actively working on integrating drones across all branches of the military, Chief of Defense, Major General Kaspars Pudans said today at the opening of the Autonomous Systems Competence Center at the A6 Logistics Park in Riga.

The rapid pace of technological development is reshaping the nature of the battlefield, and the Autonomous Systems Competence Center will bring together leading defense industry experts to directly support the Armed Forces in strengthening their intelligence, supply, and combat capabilities.

Defense Minister Andris Spruds (Progressives) stressed that the Autonomous Systems Competence Center was a significant step toward Latvia becoming a "drone superpower". While the defense sector has so far focused heavily on unmanned aerial vehicles, the next step will be the development of land and naval drones. According to the minister, the center will make Latvia stronger and serve as an example for other countries.

At the same time, Spruds underlined that the center could not operate without support of businesses, calling them "the main driving force" and emphasizing the need for continued cooperation with the defense industry. Latvia has allocated around EUR 50 million this year for the "drone army" and for supporting Ukraine within the Drone Coalition, with EUR 100 million planned for next year.

The opening ceremony was also attended by Colonel Maksym Skliar, head of the Unmanned Systems Department of Ukraine's National Guard, who confirmed the intention to closely cooperate with the new center in the field of drone technology and said he was confident that it would succeed in advancing technological development.

The center will oversee the development of air, land, and maritime drones, as well as counter-drone solutions. It will be led by Major Modris Kairiss, one of Latvia's foremost military drone specialists and former commander of the Air Force Training Center.

Its core mission will be to ensure the continuity of drone system and component supplies for the National Armed Forces in times of crisis, support Latvian companies in developing drones tailored to military operational needs, foster a favorable environment for drone system manufacturers, and promote innovation and industry cooperation.

In addition, the center will assist the National Armed Forces with drone integration, maintenance, and training, provide a dedicated testing environment for drone and counter-drone systems, deliver expertise and analysis on drone use, and enhance international cooperation through joint projects.

The activities of the Autonomous Systems Competence Center will be coordinated by the State Defense Logistics and Procurement Center, which combines expertise in innovation, research, and procurement to bridge the operational needs of the armed forces with the development and deployment of new technologies.

The defense minister announced the creation of the Autonomous Systems Competence Center this spring during the international Drone Summit.