On 23 May 2026, Latvia's National Armed Forces (NBS) switched on a two-tier cell-broadcast alert system for airspace threats. No app, no subscription, no sign-up — the message arrives on every phone connected to any Latvian carrier, in whatever language the device is set to.
The system has two levels: Yellow and Orange. Each one means something different and calls for a different response. If you fly a drone in Latvia, you need to know that difference before you need it.
What Yellow and Orange actually mean
Yellow is an information alert. NBS sends it when there is a possible threat in Latvian airspace. It does not tell you to stop what you are doing. It is a signal that the situation has changed and deserves attention.
Orange is an action alert. NBS sends it when a threat has been detected — not suspected, detected. On iOS, Orange arrives under the label "Extreme Alert." The instructions in the message are specific and need an immediate response.
The level can move either way. NBS may step down from Orange back to Yellow as a situation develops, or step up from Yellow to Orange. When the threat is over, NBS sends a clear end-of-alert message. Further updates appear on the "Latvijas armija" social media account.
What the Orange message tells civilians
The instructions inside an Orange alert are for the general public. They are:
- Go indoors and find a safe place.
- Follow the two-wall principle: put at least two solid walls between yourself and the outside.
- If you see a low-flying suspicious object, do not approach it. Call 112.
- Wait for an NBS all-clear before going back to normal.
For more context: sargs.lv and 112.lv.
Col. Arvis Zīle, head of the NBS Crisis Management Center, has noted that Latvia already runs up to six different cell-broadcast message types. That matters: if your phone buzzes, read the message rather than guess the category.
Our reading for drone pilots
NBS guidance is written for the general public; it does not mention drone pilots. For pilots, here is how we read it — this is our take, not an NBS instruction.
Yellow received while flying:
- Stay extra alert. Finish what you are doing, but keep a safe, direct path back to landing.
- Be ready to break off at short notice. The situation has changed, even if there is no legal duty to land yet.
- Start looking for a good landing spot now, while you still have time.
Orange received while flying:
- Start landing or Return to Home right away.
- Note the time and your aircraft's GPS coordinates before you land.
- Once it is down, shut the aircraft off.
- Follow the civilian instructions: go indoors, use the two-wall principle.
- Do not approach any unknown low-flying object. Call 112 if you see one.
- Wait for the NBS all-clear before powering up again.
After either level — log it. Write down which alert level you got, the time, and what you did. If your flight later draws a CAA Latvia review, a timestamped log entry is plain evidence that you responded sensibly.
What this changes about pre-flight planning
The cell-broadcast system works without internet and without an app, but it needs cellular coverage. If you fly where the cell signal is weak or absent, an alert may never reach you.
Three things worth adding to your pre-flight routine:
- Check the cell signal at your launch site. If coverage is shaky, weigh that risk before you take off.
- Set your device language to one you can read fast under pressure. The message follows the device language. A phone set to a language you do not read well will slow you down.
- Make sure Extreme Alerts are on. On most devices you can switch Extreme Alerts off in system settings. Check the setting before you fly.
None of this replaces airspace authorization or NOTAM checks. It is one more layer on top of your normal pre-flight checks.
Why the system exists now
Latvia recorded a string of unauthorized drone incursions into its airspace during May 2026. The two-tier cell-broadcast system is one part of the national response. By design, the system does not care what kind of threat it is — it covers any detected airspace threat, whatever the type or origin.
The Yellow/Orange split is built to fix a problem Col. Zīle pointed out: Latvia already uses several cell-broadcast categories, and a single, undifferentiated alert leaves people unsure how urgent it is. Two clearly labeled levels with different expected responses cut that confusion.
What you should do today
The system is already live. You do not need to register or download anything. What you do need is a clear picture of the two levels and a practiced response for each.
Yellow: stay alert, plan your exit, stay ready. Orange: land now, document it, go indoors, wait for the all-clear.
Operational procedures, including emergency response, are covered in the Operational Procedures lesson module. You can also test your knowledge on the Operational Procedures practice set.
