Estonian defense technology firm Marduk Technologies participated in a multi-layered counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) live demonstration in Latvia organized by General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) Santa Bárbara Sistemas. The event took place within the framework of Latvia’s HUNTER procurement program, under which the Baltic nation plans to acquire 84 armored combat vehicles for its Land Forces Mechanized Infantry Brigade by 2027. Modeled on the ASCOD 2 tracked platform, the vehicle offers NATO STANAG Level 4 ballistic protection, an automatic main cannon, anti-tank guided missiles, and an auxiliary machine gun to support frontline maneuver operations. Under a broader industrial cooperation scheme designed to meet Latvia’s 30% domestic participation requirement, GDELS supplies the rolling stock chassis while Finnish defense firm Patria oversees vehicle assembly, platform integration, and long-term sustainment.
During the field evaluation, Marduk integrated its lightweight PIRAYA passive electro-optical detection, classification, and targeting platform into the broader C-UAS architecture demonstrated to high-ranking officials from the Latvian Ministry of Defence and military stakeholders. Designed as a compact, rapidly deployable counterpart to the larger Marduk Shark, the 10 kg system provides covert air domain awareness without emitting radio-frequency signatures that adversaries could exploit. PIRAYA utilizes a wide-angle optical aperture with a 20° field of view to execute passive threat detection, capable of acquiring micro and mini unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at ranges up to 2 km, while tracking larger medium-altitude systems between 3 km and 5 km.
Technically optimized for stationary tripod mounting or dynamic vehicle integration, the system features a high-speed motorized gimbal offering pan-tilt slew rates up to 90° per second to facilitate continuous 360° object tracking. PIRAYA incorporates edge-based onboard computing running proprietary artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) algorithms for target classification, relying on a localized database to recognize target profiles without external network latency. The modular software framework allows seamless integration with third-party command-and-control (C2) networks, complementary radar systems, and active soft- or hard-kill effectors to create a resilient air-defense footprint.
The successful demonstration underscored the operational value of passive optical sensors when paired with heavy armored platforms in contested electromagnetic environments. By contributing an undetectable target acquisition layer to the ASCOD vehicle ecosystem, Marduk showcased how scalable electro-optical systems enhance force protection against low-altitude asymmetric threats. Operational feedback gathered during the trials will inform future sensor fusion requirements as the Latvian Land Forces continue modernizing their mechanized doctrine and air-defense integration capabilities.
