Latvia, Estonia and Belgium have received the first Blaze interceptor drones produced by Latvian defence technology company Origin Robotics, Latvia’s Minister of Defence Andris Sprūds announced.
The three NATO member states have become the first in Europe to introduce a fully autonomous interceptor drone system in response to growing airspace threats, Sprūds stated.
The Blaze unmanned aerial vehicle interceptor is designed to intercept and destroy enemy drones and other fast-moving aerial targets. It is a highly mobile and rapidly deployable solution that combines radar data with machine vision technologies to accurately detect, track, and neutralise hostile drones in flight.
The system provides an autonomous and cost-effective complement to existing air defence capabilities.
It has also been reported that Latvia plans to allocate 200.54 million euros this year to strengthen air defence,
while 50 million euros will be invested in unmanned aerial vehicle capabilities—an increase compared to the 20 million euros allocated for such capabilities this year.
According to data from Firmas.lv, Origin Robotics reported turnover of €1,812,469 in 2024 and a profit of 47,076 euros. The company, founded in 2022, is primarily owned by Agris Ķipurs (39.66%), Iļja Nevdahs (28%), and Konstantīns Popiks (22.34%).
At the end of 2024, Origin Robotics also received approval from the European Commission for 4.5 million euros in funding from the European Defence Fund to develop drone-based target designation capabilities, significantly expanding the potential use of precision-guided munitions.
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