Latvian entrepreneurs can be experts in any field, and this was demonstrated on Wednesday at the NBS Industry Day. Drones, ammunition, cars, and even food. All made and used in Latvia.
For example - military amphibious vehicles. The company "Ripo Repair Centre" (Ripo remonta centrs) is giving a new life to an interesting-looking all-terrain vehicle to make it easier for soldiers and service personnel to move and relocate military equipment. Already 20 amphibious vehicles have been given a new life, and most of them are being used by the service staff.
Oskars Stranga of Ripo Repair Center said: "We are taking a diesel engine out of a non-running petrol engine, which has been fitted with carburetor systems since the 1970s, with high fuel consumption, and putting a diesel engine in, and in a sense we are making savings."
The company Vairog EU, for example, has been producing ammunition for a year and a half. The road to this was taken some time ago, when it prepared the machines that produce ammunition. Now the company is working with the NBS.
Vairog EU's Juris Užulis said: "We have our own ballistic testing laboratory here in Latvia. This is a unique thing, which does not exist in neighboring countries. We can test our ammunition, study the ballistics and immediately improve it, change the composition, change the raw materials."
Being based in Latvia, the company can react quickly to any news, for example, it takes about 4 minutes to produce one cartridge.
The Industry Day also showcased a fully developed and assembled unmanned aerial vehicle in Latvia - as a target for air defense exercises. This model can fly up to 300 kilometers and can also carry cargo. Oskars Sīmanis, Chairman of the Board of the company Temeso, said: "This particular model is our latest with a range of up to 300 kilometers [...] and it also can accommodate cargo of up to 6.5 kilograms. Our aircraft are made of a linen composite. The reason for this is that they are shot down in training. We are trying to reduce that kind of impact on nature."
The Industry Day is mainly for companies to showcase their products and possibly make new contacts. A total of 40 different Latvian companies took part in the event - all fully prepared to provide the country with what it needs.
Defence Minister Andris Sprūds (Progressives) said: "We need to map more precisely, to identify more precisely the products that can be produced locally and that we need. And in doing so, we are also giving precise, clear signals to our industry where we need to work together and where we need to find common ground."
