A test flight of an early prototype missile is checking how aerodynamic the prototype is, whether the cameras and sensors will work, and what still needs to be improved.
Andrejs Puķītis, a missile designer who has worked with students on prototypes in the past, plays an important role in Frankenburg Technologies, which is one of the reasons why the company plans to build the first real missile factory in Latvia.
The company's CEO is former Estonian State Secretary in the Ministry of Defense Kusti Salm, who points out that students in Latvia will also play an important role in making it a success.
"I don't think many Latvians know this, but Latvia has much experience building missiles. One of your most talented technical professors is working on this and I think we need to grow with them," says Kusti Salm, CEO of Frankenburg Technologies.
That is why a cooperation agreement was signed with Riga Technical University on Thursday November 14 . The aim is to develop missiles that can shoot down drones.
"The whole concept is about a missile based on readily available parts that can be bought in large quantities at an affordable price. The conceptual development was exactly that," explains Puķītis.
The first prototypes are expected to be turned into real products in six months. In the longer term, engineers are also needed to work in-house and develop the missiles. Hence the cooperation agreement was signed with the university.
"This is what they want too. They will be engineers who will work in the company. But already during their studies, they are working on projects that provide them with the skills to be able to work in such a company," said Tālis Juhna, Rector of Riga Technical University.
The agreement also provides that Frankenburg Technologies will support student teams wishing to carry out rocket science research that would not otherwise be funded.
