Estonia, Latvia, and Belgium have begun taking delivery of Origin Robotics’ BLAZE autonomous interceptor drones, becoming the first European militaries to field a domestically developed fully autonomous aerial interception capability. Announced only months after procurement decisions, the deliveries commenced in January and are being executed in phased batches. Developed in Latvia, the BLAZE system features a STANAG-compliant warhead module and is engineered for rapid NATO interoperability. Latvia initiated procurement in October 2025, Belgium followed with a 50-million-euro counter-drone allocation, and Estonia placed its order shortly thereafter. The system is delivered operationally ready, reducing the long lead times typical of traditional defense acquisitions. National evaluation bodies will oversee integration into existing air defense networks. Autonomous interceptor drones rely on onboard AI and sensors to detect, track, and engage UAV threats independently, marking a shift from manually piloted counter-UAS solutions.
