Strengthening Baltic defence capabilities

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Europe’s security landscape has changed considerably in recent years, prompting many nations, particularly those bordering Russia, to invest in advanced defensive technologies.

Against this background, Dynamit Nobel Defence GmbH (DND) has reached a significant milestone in its international engagement by signing a strategic contract with the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia and its National Defence Logistics and Procurement Centre.

The agreement covers the delivery of the SKORPION²Remote Mining System, marking both a major expansion of DND’s presence in the Baltic region and a substantial contribution to NATO’s eastern flank security. Latvia’s selection of SKORPION² underscores its commitment to acquiring a modern, reliable and NATO-interoperable counter-mobility capability designed to meet operational and humanitarian standards.

Latvia’s decision to procure SKORPION² aligns with its broader national and regional defence modernisation strategy, aimed at strengthening engineering capabilities and enhancing mobility-denial options. For DND, the contract demonstrates its ability to deliver complex systems built around technological innovation, operational flexibility and user-centred design.

“This contract is an important step for European defence cooperation”, said Michael Humbek, CEO of DND. “We are not only delivering an advanced system - we are also building a long-term partnership in industry and security.”

How the system meets Latvia’s needs

DND will supply the complete SKORPION² system, including AT²+ antitank mines, technical training and logistical support, and intends to involve industrial partners on the Latvian side. The contract reflects Riga’s confidence in DND’s engineering expertise and Germany’s long-standing reputation for defence industry excellence.

Training provisions ensure Latvian personnel can fully operate, maintain and tactically employ the system, while local industrial involvement will strengthen national supply chain resilience and support long-term sustainment and future upgrades.

The SKORPION² Remote Mining System represents state-of-the-art minelaying technology. Designed for rapid deployment and precision control, it enables forces to shape the battlefield while ensuring compliance with international conventions. Each platform can deploy patterns of AT²+ mines across a wide area, either in pre-planned defensive positions or dynamically in response to real-time developments. 

The system integrates with digital command and control networks, allowing remote planning, activation and reporting. Core features include rapid deployment, programmable self-destruct and self-neutralisation mechanisms, modular integration options, NATO-standard interoperability, and reduced ownership costs through simplified maintenance. 

Through these characteristics, SKORPION²modernises traditional minelaying, transforming it into a precise, flexible and responsible deterrence tool.

Latvia identified SKORPION² as the optimal solution after a comprehensive evaluation, recognising its reliability, modularity and seamless digital integration. These qualities make it particularly well suited to Baltic terrain, where mobility, deterrence and interoperability with allies are essential. For Latvia, the system will significantly enhance the capabilities of its engineer troops, while for DND, the selection reinforces SKORPION²‘s growing international credibility among modern armed forces.

The importance of a collaborative approach

DND places strong emphasis on sustainable industrial cooperation with customer nations. As part of this contract, the company will work with Latvian industry through offset programmes and collaborative supply arrangements. “Local industrial participation is not just a contractual clause - it is a philosophy”, explained Jens Beimforde, Vice President for Business Development at DND. 

The approach aims to support job creation, enable technology transfer and build long-term maintenance capabilities within Latvia, reflecting wider European procurement trends, where industrial resilience and sovereignty are considered as important as operational performance.

The agreement also has greater regional significance. Latvia is the first Baltic state to acquire modern minelaying capabilities and fully remote-controlled operation of deployed barriers, creating a model that others can follow. 

The contract includes provisions for additional nations to join the procurement framework, underlining the system’s scalability and interoperability. This opens the possibility of a future multinational SKORPION² user community, enabling shared training, logistics and operational best practice across allied forces.

The philosophy behind the development of SKORPION²is based on decades of experience in high-tech defence technology. The SKORPION²programme reflects close collaboration between engineers, soldiers and procurement authorities, ensuring operational needs are directly integrated into system design. 

Manufacturing at the company’s site in Burbach adheres to strict quality and environmental standards, including ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications, guaranteeing both reliability and sustainability.

A defining element of DND’s partnership approach is comprehensive lifecycle support. For Latvia, this extends far beyond the delivery of the equipment and includes training for operators and maintainers, mission-scenario simulations, technical integration support and lifecycle management services to ensure long-term readiness. This ensures that Latvian forces can operate and sustain the system independently for years to come.

Growing European capabilities within NATO

Within NATO’s broader deterrence posture, Latvia’s procurement of SKORPION² provides an important operational enhancement. Its NATO-standard architecture facilitates seamless integration into multinational exercises and operations. DND will support these efforts through interoperability initiatives, training programmes and knowledge-exchange activities. As CEO Humbek stated: “We see this contract not as a one-off delivery, but as part of an ongoing partnership supporting peace, deterrence and preparedness.”

The Latvian contract forms a central component of DND’s long-term growth strategy. As European nations increase investment in defence readiness and industrial sovereignty, DND is positioned as a trusted partner for advanced land-system solutions. 

Ongoing research and development in digitalisation, automation and modularity will ensure SKORPION² remains at the forefront of next-generation battlefield-engineering capabilities. The Latvian contract also strengthens DND’s export credentials, providing a key reference for future engagements across NATO and partner states.