Belgium has procured Latvian-made kamikaze drones designed specifically for counter-UAV missions, capable of detecting and neutralizing hostile drones. The acquisition is included in a 50-million-euro ($57 million) national counter-drone package, though the government has not revealed the portion designated for Origin Robotics.
Additionally, Brussels is preparing a larger 500-million-euro ($579 million) investment to strengthen its drone-defense architecture with improved radar systems and advanced jamming technologies. A rollout schedule has yet to be announced.
The BLAZE drone is a lightweight, man-portable interceptor built to destroy enemy drones, including high-speed UAVs and loitering munitions. It carries a high-explosive fragmentation warhead and uses a combination of radar, EO/IR sensors, and AI-driven target identification, with the operator required to validate targets prior to engagement.
The platform features built-in safety protocols, a mission-termination mode available up to the final approach, and an autonomous self-destruct system that activates if the drone exits its designated zone, loses communication, or encounters a major system failure.
Designed for quick deployment, the system comes in a transport case that functions as both a launcher and a charging unit. It can be assembled tool-free in under 10 minutes and can carry out successive launches with minimal delay.
