Latvian startup Origin Robotics today launched BLAZE, an autonomous interceptor drone designed to destroy enemy drones by ramming into them or blowing them up.
BLAZE is deployable on the battlefield in less than a minute. It comes in a small briefcase which doubles as a launchpad and charging dock.
Powered by computer vision, BLAZE has been trained to spot the difference between different aircraft types and distinguish them from other objects, such as birds. It combines this system with traditional radar to track aerial targets with high precision.
But Ukraine also faces its own onslaught of Russian drones, which has left it scrambling for lower-cost ways to counter these mass-produced aerial threats.
In January 2025 alone, Russia launched over 2,500 drones into Ukrainian territory.
“We designed BLAZE specifically to address this threat — a fast, intelligent, and cost-effective addition to existing air defence systems,” Kipurs said.
“In asymmetric warfare, drones are relatively inexpensive and widely deployed to overwhelm air defences and strike targets both at the frontline and deep behind it, making it challenging and costly to counter,” he added.
Ukraine has increasingly relied on first-person view (FPV) interceptor drones to counter Russian UAV attacks. These piloted FPVs are basically consumer-grade drones with an explosive attached.
“While creative, this approach is extremely challenging and not scalable,” Kipurs said. Using FPVs as interceptors, he continued, “requires an exceptionally skilled pilot with extensive training and flight time — skills that are rare, even among experienced operators.”
Kipurs co-founded Origin in 2022 alongside Ilja Nevdahs. The company has raised over $9mn to date. It also recently secured an R&D contract from the Latvian Ministry of Defence and a grant from the European Defence Fund.
Defence tech is a key theme of the Assembly, the invite-only policy track of TNW Conference. The event takes place in Amsterdam on June 19 — a week before the NATO Summit arrives in the city.
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