Latvia's Origin Robotics Introduces Smart Anti-Drone System Blaze with AI-Guided Target Acquisition.

On May 6, 2025, Latvian defense startup Origin Robotics unveiled the Blaze interceptor, a new autonomous solution designed to counter the escalating threat posed by enemy drones on the battlefield. Designed with NATO armies in mind, this autonomous kamikaze drone provides a rapid-response, cost-efficient means of neutralizing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on the frontline. Blaze combines computer vision and radar tracking to engage aerial targets with high precision and is deployable in under a minute from a compact briefcase launcher. Origin Robotics describes the system as a game-changer for NATO forces facing an urgent need to adapt to drone-saturated battlefields.
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Unlike expensive surface-to-air missiles, the Blaze is designed to be at least ten times cheaper than the UAVs it targets, making it a highly cost-effective solution. (Picture source: Origin Robotics)

The Blaze fills a critical operational gap in modern air defense architecture, positioned between conventional anti-aircraft guns and high-cost missile systems. Traditional air defense methods often struggle with the volume and affordability of commercial and military-grade UAVs now used in conflict zones like Ukraine. Blaze addresses this by offering a fast, autonomous drone capable of identifying, pursuing, and destroying enemy drones through direct impact or close-proximity detonation. Its built-in warhead ensures effective neutralization of threats, while its autonomy reduces the burden on human operators, though oversight is retained until final engagement. Importantly, the platform includes a “wave-off” function to avoid collateral damage, allowing for safe return or controlled self-destruction if necessary.

Unlike expensive surface-to-air missiles, Blaze is designed to be at least ten times cheaper than the UAVs it targets, making it a highly cost-effective solution. This affordability is especially vital as nations look to scale air defense coverage against increasingly dense drone attacks. Compared to manually piloted FPV interceptors — currently used by Ukraine — Blaze offers greater scalability and consistency. FPV drones require highly skilled operators and are difficult to train at the scale needed for mass deployment. Blaze, in contrast, functions autonomously and can be deployed in high volumes with minimal logistical strain.

The BLAZE drone interceptor from Latvia’s Origin Robotics is characterized by its ultra-compact, briefcase-sized form and full autonomy, allowing for rapid, man-portable deployment. Equipped with AI-based computer vision and radar, it operates independently once launched from its integrated container-platform. Similar emphasis on portability and autonomous function is found in Israel’s Spear UAVs, particularly the Ninox family, which are tube-launched micro tactical drones capable of vertical takeoff and autonomous mission execution. While not always designed specifically as interceptors, variants like the Ninox 103 can be adapted for loitering defense roles. In Europe, EDGE’s Allag-TJ is a compact interceptor with a 1.65-meter length and 0.7-meter wingspan, designed for high-speed, canister-based deployment with autonomous operation at altitudes up to 7,600 meters.

From the United States, Anduril’s Roadrunner-M offers a more robust, reusable interceptor solution featuring vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), subsonic speeds, and full autonomy via AI-driven targeting and detection. Russia’s Vogan-9SP drone, launched from aircraft, uses automated guidance and a shrapnel warhead, reaching speeds near 193 km/h. China’s MD-19 hypersonic drone, reportedly capable of Mach 7, represents a high-end strategic counter-UAS solution, though little is known about its operational control systems. Complementing these is the Marss Interceptor-MR, a European fixed-wing drone optimized for medium-range interception. It combines autonomous flight with a proprietary launch and control system, balancing portability and speed for flexible defense scenarios. Together, these systems reflect a shared global trajectory toward smaller, faster, and more intelligent counter-drone technologies adapted to varying tactical environments.

At present, Ukraine is being considered as a potential first user of Blaze, building on its existing operational relationship with Origin Robotics, whose BEAK drone is already in combat service. The need in Ukraine is acute: in January 2025 alone, over 2,500 Russian drones targeted Ukrainian territory, prompting the urgent search for more sustainable air defense solutions. The Blaze interceptor emerges as a response to this pressure, with its creators aiming to provide NATO forces across Europe with a viable alternative to costly missile-based defenses.

As the nature of warfare evolves, solutions like Blaze are becoming essential. The Latvian innovation illustrates how startup-driven defense tech can offer practical, scalable tools to match asymmetric threats. In time, as militaries seek to replace legacy and expensive interception systems, autonomous and affordable platforms such as Blaze may become central to next-generation air defense strategies.