NATO's decision to send the NASAMS air defense system to Latvia is filling a gap in the defense of the alliance's eastern flank. Adequate armament is also needed at sea - anti-ship missile systems are needed off the coast. And it is to be hoped that the accession of Sweden and Finland does not turn the Baltics into a kind of bargaining chip, because anything can be expected from the agonized Russia.
Physically, Spain will provide anti-aircraft reinforcements for Latvia, but it is clear that this is not an individual decision. The Allies asked - or, more accurately, appointed - and Spain complied. This is similar to the NATO fighter jet patrols in the Baltic skies. But fighter jets and air combat alone cannot protect the skies. We need effective missile systems at different ranges, and one will be delivered to Latvia in the near future, but it is just as likely that it has already arrived. Usually, for security reasons, military deliveries are not publicly announced before they have taken place. Unless it is empty bluster like Germany's promised arms deliveries to Ukraine.
It was announced a few days ago that the Spanish Ministry of Defense would deploy a battery of NASAMS anti-ship missiles along with 100 soldiers in Latvia. NASAMS is a Norwegian weapon, jointly developed and produced with the Americans. Its effectiveness is demonstrated by the fact that the system is also used in the 24/7 defense of Washington. The manufacturer Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace's website describes the system as mobile, adaptable to different conditions and situations - designed with a focus on short to medium range defense of airfields, harbors, settlements, various strategic sites and military forces. In full complement, a single NASAMS battery includes up to 12 missile launchers, each operating six missiles, eight radars, a fire control center, a sky-scanning electro-optical sensor facility, and a tactical control vehicle. Major Modris Kairišs, Commander of the NAF Air Force Training Centre, told Neatkarīgā more about the NASAMS weapon system. Usually, 4 to 8 launchers, 2-3 radars, 2 sensors, 2 command elements are combined in the system. Exactly how many will be deployed in Latvia is currently up to Spain. It should be understood that the system is deployed as a network, which means that the security coverage must take into account not only the flight altitude and distance of the missiles, which may vary depending on the missile model, but also the distances at which the missile launchers are located from each other. So one launcher could be in Jūrmala, one in Ropaži, one in Salaspils, and the Riga region would be completely covered. Of course, the system is mobile and can be moved to other regions of Latvia as needed, but Riga is the heart of Latvia and must be protected at all costs.
Until now, the Latvian army's RBS-70 and Stinger missile systems have controlled altitudes of up to five kilometers. Now, the Spanish guided missiles will also be able to hit targets flying much higher and further away. The medium-range missiles fly up to 50 kilometers.
Defense Minister Artis Pabriks has commented that the installation of such equipment changes the rules of the game for anyone trying to use aviation on Latvian territory. NAF Reserve Captain and military analyst Mārtiņš Vērdiņš agrees. Until now, a potential enemy could fly at any altitude, with hardly any fear:
"By deploying this system intelligently, we can give the enemy planners a very big headache."
Scenarios like in Ukraine, where attack helicopters fly in first, take the airport and then bombers follow, will be much more difficult to execute here. Unless the equipment sent to Latvia is taken away again. And if the Spanish allies understand the word attack to mean the same thing as the Latvians. If Article 5 of NATO is triggered not only in terms of convening a meeting to express the strongest condemnation, but also in terms of real defense of the threatened country, etc.
Conceptually, the principle that Latvia gives its soldiers while countries far away from the potential source of threat provide the gear is correct. But the controversial situation with heavy weapons supplies to Ukraine, as a close NATO partner, reminds us once again that we also need our own gear. We need air defense and we need anti-ship defense. It’s slow, expensive, but at some point we will get it. At least the Ministry of Defense plans to. Major Modris Kairišs says that 5-6 similar medium-range air defense systems like NASAMS are currently available on the market, and research is being carried out to determine which of them would be most suitable for Latvia. It is important that it can be integrated with existing radars and command and control centers. In addition, the new military procurement guideline to involve as much as possible the domestic industry in the production and servicing process should be taken into account. If we produce armored vehicles ourselves, why not produce some components for missile systems?
But for the time being, until we have our own medium-range anti-aircraft system, we have to rely on NATO outsourcing through Spain, and at shorter ranges, we can practice shooting with what we have. This week, Latvia is hosting the Ramstein Legacy 2022 international military exercise, organized by NATO Air Command to improve the air defense capabilities of the Baltic States and Poland. Yesterday, supersonic aircraft made a big boom in the air, while other booms will be made by RBS-70, Stinger and Avenger short-range air defense systems.