What a drone maker on NATO’s front line says the West needs for future wars
Latvia’s Origin Robotics is at the forefront of a vital shift in military technology as it collaborates with Ukraine and NATO to address the pressing needs of frontline states. CEO Agris Kipurs has highlighted that smaller NATO members, particularly those bordering Russia, face unique challenges due to their limited populations and military resources. These nations require innovative, cost-effective solutions to counteract the overwhelming numerical advantage of Russia’s armed forces. To this end, Origin Robotics is developing autonomous drones and interceptors, including the BLAZE and BEAK systems, which are already in use in Ukraine. The company’s strategy involves leveraging real-world feedback from the ongoing conflict to tailor their technologies specifically for NATO’s operational requirements, ensuring that these systems can effectively enhance the defensive capabilities of smaller allied nations.
As the conflict in Ukraine continues to demonstrate, traditional military tactics are evolving. Russia’s strategy of launching mass assaults, reminiscent of Soviet-era tactics, has exposed the vulnerabilities of smaller armies that cannot match such force with sheer numbers. Kipurs argues that autonomy in military technology is crucial for these nations, allowing them to effectively scale their operations and turn a single operator into a formidable force through drone swarms. This approach not only enhances operational efficiency but also minimizes the risk to personnel, as operators can engage from a safer distance. Furthermore, the need for cost-effective defense mechanisms is paramount, particularly in light of the expensive nature of conventional weaponry. Kipurs points out that the high costs associated with advanced missile systems make them impractical for countering lower-cost threats like drones, emphasizing the necessity for affordable alternatives that can neutralize such attacks without breaking the bank.
The geopolitical context surrounding Origin Robotics’ efforts is significant. Latvia and its neighboring countries have been vocal advocates for increased NATO readiness, having experienced firsthand the threats posed by Russian aggression. Their proactive stance has led to increased defense spending and the establishment of new border defenses, underscoring their commitment to deterrence. Despite the protection offered by NATO’s mutual defense clause, concerns about the alliance’s rapid response capabilities remain. This urgency drives both governmental and private sector initiatives, such as those spearheaded by Origin Robotics, to bolster defenses and ensure that smaller NATO members are equipped to face the evolving landscape of modern warfare. As European security dynamics shift, the contributions of innovative companies like Origin Robotics will be pivotal in shaping the future of military engagements in the region.
Latvia’s Origin Robotics is working with Ukraine and NATO militaries.
Janis Laizans/REUTERS
A NATO drone maker said smaller, frontline NATO members have two key weaponry needs.
They need autonomy because they have smaller populations, and cost-effective ways to stop attacks.
Latvia’s Origin Robotics makes drones and drone interceptors, and has systems in Ukraine.
A
drone maker
that’s been arming Ukraine and designing systems to protect NATO says it’s learned what the alliance, especially allies sharing a
border with Russia
, will need to fight — and win — a war.
Drone maker
Origin Robotics
, which is based in Latvia, one of NATO’s smaller
eastern edge
allies bordering Russia and Belarus, is among those considered most
at risk of a potential Russian attack
. Facing a growing threat, countries along that frontier have played an outsized role in shaping NATO’s urgency toward Moscow.
CEO Agris Kipurs recently told Business Insider that these smaller front-line states need to invest in autonomy and lower-cost ways to take down enemy mass.
These are the kind of solutions that the technology company is working on. It has supplied some systems to Ukraine and has R&D contracts with Latvia’s defense ministry. And Belgium recently agreed to buy Origin’s interceptors.
Origin Robotics produces autonomous aerial and airborne systems, including an AI-enabled drone interceptor called BLAZE and a drone-launched precision-guided weapon known called BEAK. The latter is in use in Ukraine.
Origin Robotics’ BLAZE interceptor.
Janis Laizans/REUTERS
Kipurs said the company is using Ukrainian feedback to shape how it’s building its new systems with NATO in mind. “We take the learnings of Ukraine, but we adapt those weapons systems specifically to be used in a NATO country,” the market they are building for, he said.
Western militaries see real-world experience from Ukraine as key for industry. Luke Pollard, the UK’s armed forces minister, said earlier this year that any
Western drone companies
that don’t have their gear in Ukraine “might as well give up.”
A need for autonomy
Russia has one of the world’s largest armed forces. In Ukraine, Russia has shown a willingness to send waves of soldiers forward to relentless stress and overwhelm defenses — tactics often described as ”
meat waves
.” It has roots in Soviet doctrine, though it’s not a 1:1 comparison to the fatal forward charges of the Second World War.
Smaller militaries with fewer troops can counter that mass with autonomy, Kipurs said. That kind of tech allows armies to be bigger than their numbers. Autonomy can give life to drone swarms, converting a single operator into an army of their own.
“For a NATO country, you need a scalable solution,” he said. Compared to Russia and Ukraine, “our armies, in terms of head count, are a lot smaller.” The alliance as a whole commands substantial forces, but force multipliers like autonomy can make alliance military might much greater.
“We have to build systems which can be deployed within a smaller army where one operator has to accomplish way more than an operator in Ukraine is accomplishing,” he said. “And pretty much the only answer to that is autonomy.”
Autonomy allows militaries to scale, Kipurs explained. “We don’t have the numbers in terms of infantry, in terms of any army operator. So they have to be able to accomplish more.”
Ukraine, one of Europe’s largest countries, is still struggling against Russia’s superior manpower and is increasingly turning to autonomy to offset that disadvantage. It also wants technology that protects operators by keeping them farther from the front lines, a crucial need as drone pilots have become top Russian targets.
Low-cost counters
Kipurs said finding cost-effective ways to stop large-scale attacks is also critical for nations with limited budgets, not just smaller militaries.
Being able to stop drones without spending millions is key for Russia and Ukraine, and likely would be for NATO in a conflict.
Kostya Liberov/ Libkos via Getty Images
A key Russian tactic has been launching
massive drone and missile barrages
across Ukraine. This is something the West is increasingly worried about, with many officials acknowledging a gap in its defenses. There are not enough air defense systems, particularly affordable ones. It’s not sustainable to fire a $4 million Patriot missile at a Russian drone worth only thousands.
Kipurs said that “when you look at the current offering for precision strike technology or weapon systems that can deliver precision strikes at the lowest end, you are talking hundreds of thousands per one successful strike.” Some missile systems are worth millions, which is what higher-end interceptors are made for.
In Ukraine, both sides have recognized that exquisite precision strike capabilities are simply not sustainable in the long run, so they’ve been augmenting barrages with cheaper drones and loitering munitions.
It’s cheap mass, not the expensive weapons that top armies have prioritized for decades. Addressing this problem, Kipurs said, is an “opportunity” for European entrepreneurs.
Front-line perspectives
Latvia and its neighbors, countries at risk that have grappled with Russian hybrid attacks and
airspace violations
, warned early on that
Russia posed a threat
and are now among Ukraine’s strongest backers.
They’re also some of NATO’s most vocal members, warning that Moscow could strike elsewhere in Europe. These nations rank among the alliance’s top defense spenders relative to GDP and have built
new border defenses
to blunt any potential attack.
They’re protected by NATO’s mutual-defense clause — it essentially states an attack on one is an attack on all — meaning that despite their small size, they have the backing of major militaries like the US, UK, and Germany.
But officials in these countries remain concerned about how quickly NATO could respond, insisting that Russia must not be allowed to seize even an inch of territory. That urgency is driving them to build stronger deterrents and homegrown defenses, a focus shared by companies like Origin Robotics.
The uncertain state of the US commitment to NATO and European security has only heightened those concerns across the region.
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Business Insider
