Saturday, June 3, 2023
  • About us
    • Write for us
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms of use
    • Privacy Policy
  • RSS Feeds
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us
DefenceTalk
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
DefenceTalk
No Result
View All Result

US unveils Predator drones at Latvian airbase

by Agence France-Presse
September 9, 2015
in Air Force News
1 min read
0
Pakistan minister warns against US missile strikes
14
VIEWS

The US Air Force on Tuesday showed off its advanced MQ-1 “Predator” drone at a Latvian airbase, marking the first time the cutting-edge aircraft has been deployed in Europe.

The showcase at the central Lielvarde airbase comes as tensions run high in the Baltic states — Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia — with neighboring Russia over its role in the Ukraine conflict.

“It’s important to train for interoperability between NATO partners,” Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis told AFP at the event.

“It’s a good example of smart defence that we can use equipment that we don’t currently have,” he said, adding Riga is considering buying its own drones without specifying which.

Originally built for Russian bombers, the Lielvarde base has been extensively overhauled to make it the only one in Europe capable of hosting Predator drones on a permanent basis.

But the current deployment is due to last just two weeks and involves familiarising intelligence staff from the Baltic states, Poland and Germany with the system.

The two pilotless drones — which have a range of 2,000 nautical miles and a top speed of 135 miles per hour — performed a series of flybys at the showcase also featuring A-10 “Warthog” ground-attack craft.

Though the two drones in Latvia are weapon-free, they are capable of carrying armaments including Hellfire missiles as well as carrying out intelligence and reconnaissance missions.

Tuesday’s showcase comes less than a week after US F-22 Raptor fighters visited Estonia for the first time.

The three Baltic states regained their independence in 1991 after 50 years of Soviet occupation and joined NATO in 2004.

Tags: dronesLatviaMQ-1predatorUnmanned Aerial Vehicle
Previous Post

Pakistan Carries Out First-Ever Drone Strike

Next Post

31 dead as intense coalition raids pound Yemen rebels

Related Posts

China made third-largest air incursion this year, says Taiwan

China would gain swift air superiority over Taiwan, US leaks show

April 19, 2023

China would probably gain air superiority very quickly in any attack on Taiwan, something Russia crucially failed to do in...

Su-35 Fighter Aircraft, Russian Air Force

Iran says deal reached to buy Russian fighter jets

March 13, 2023

Iran has finalized a deal to buy Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets from Russia, state media reported, as defence cooperation between...

Next Post
31 dead as intense coalition raids pound Yemen rebels

31 dead as intense coalition raids pound Yemen rebels

Latest Defense News

China made third-largest air incursion this year, says Taiwan

China would gain swift air superiority over Taiwan, US leaks show

April 19, 2023
china third aircraft carrier PLAN

China sends warships and aircraft around Taiwan for second day

April 8, 2023
Japan defence ministry seeks $50 billion budget

Japan changes rules to allow aid to foreign militaries

April 6, 2023
Trump order targets Chinese internet giants TikTok, WeChat

TikTok hit with UK fine, Australia government ban

April 6, 2023
Finland gears up for historic NATO decision

Long NATO delay spells trouble for Sweden and alliance: experts

April 6, 2023
Russia says fired anti-ship missiles at mock target in Sea of Japan

Russia says fired anti-ship missiles at mock target in Sea of Japan

March 28, 2023

Defense Forum Discussions

  • GMAP AVIATION VIDEO COLLECTION / F-16 FULL AFTERBURNERS IN TAKE-OFF
  • Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates 2.0
  • China - Geostrategic & Geopolitical.
  • Indonesian Aero News
  • Turkish Air Force - Türk Hava Kuvvetleri
  • Ukrainian - Russian War Memes.
  • The Russian-Ukrainian War Thread
  • Turkey - Geopolitical & Geostrategic.
  • Australian Army Discussions and Updates
  • AI
DefenceTalk

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com

Navigate Site

  • Defence Forum
  • Military Photos
  • RSS Feeds
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com