Latvia to allocate €2.4 million to protect Riga Airport from drones

Riga Airport is set to receive €2.42 million to strengthen its defences against unauthorised drone flights, the Latvian government announced on December 16. 

Of this, €1.955 million will come from the European Regional Development Fund, with the remaining €465,637 provided by the national budget, Caliber.Az reports via Latvian media.

The Ministry of Transport has outlined plans to implement an innovative, integrated technological system capable of detecting, tracking, and countering drones. The project will involve installing sensors across the airport and providing the necessary software infrastructure to monitor unmanned aerial vehicles operating in critical airspace and on airport grounds.

Officials stressed that Riga Airport is a vital piece of national infrastructure. Any disruption or destruction of its operations could impede government functions and pose risks to public safety and national security.

According to the airport’s nine-month financial report, equipment for detecting, identifying, tracking, and neutralising drones has already been purchased, with a supplier contract signed on 6 July 2025. The first phase of the acquisition was completed in the third quarter of this year. The total investment required for the full system is estimated at €3.5 million.

Earlier this year, Riga Airport faced three short-term airspace restrictions in January, all linked to unauthorised drone activity. Multiple drones were reported, and according to the Civil Aviation Agency (CAA), existing detection systems failed to identify them because their traceable functions had been deactivated. Authorities suggested the flights may have been deliberate.

In March, the airport installed new drone detection devices acquired through a government tender announced last year, complementing the existing surveillance systems.

By Aghakazim Guliyev