From August 3–14, Ukraine participated in NATO’s Baltic Trust 2026 exercise at the Sēlija training ground in Latvia, focused on countering drones. In addition to practicing drone detection and neutralization tactics, the alliance tested for the first time a model in which private defense companies can directly carry out combat engagement tasks. This was reported by the General Staff on August 19.
The exercise brought together approximately 650 participants from 24 countries — Latvia, NATO member states, and partners, including Ukraine, Australia, and Japan. Military personnel, specialists, and industry representatives from several EU countries jointly tested technological solutions in conditions approximating a real operational environment.
At the center of the exercise was the ability of technologies to function as a unified system. Participants tested how detection assets, command-and-control systems, and counter-UAS measures can share data, build a common operational picture, and enable coordinated responses.
«Drone technology and counter-drone capabilities are evolving very rapidly. No less important than the technology itself is the ability of different systems to work together effectively», — the Latvian Ministry of Defense stated.
Participants also tested an operational concept unique to NATO: private defense companies are engaged as direct executors of combat tasks. Under this model, once a target is detected, military command can pass engagement tasking directly to contractors, who deploy their own equipment, unmanned systems, software, engineers, and pilots to carry out the strike.
Baltic Trust 2026 fits into NATO’s packed 2026 exercise schedule, built largely around the northern Baltic direction. Cold Response 26 was held in the Arctic during winter, while spring and summer saw the U.S. Army’s umbrella exercise Sword 26, Sweden’s AURORA 26, and BALTOPS 26. Immediately preceding Baltic Trust were Neptune Strike 26-3 in the High North (July 17–23) and the Ukraine-led counter-mine exercise Sea Breeze 26-2 in Portland (July 13–25).
