Belgium has procured defensive kamikaze drones from Latvia’s Origin Robotics as part of its growing investment in counter-UAV technologies. The purchase is included in a 50-million-euro ($57 million) package aimed at enhancing the country’s ability to detect and neutralize hostile drones. While the Belgian Ministry of Defence confirmed the acquisition, it did not disclose how much of the budget is allocated specifically to Origin Robotics systems.
In addition to this procurement, Brussels is preparing a far larger expansion of its counter-drone strategy. Reports indicate that Belgium plans to invest around 500 million euros ($579 million) to introduce next-generation radar systems and advanced jamming capabilities. This major modernization effort seeks to strengthen national security against rapidly evolving UAV threats, although no estimated completion timeline has yet been released.
At the core of the recent purchase is the BLAZE system, a portable kamikaze drone engineered to intercept and destroy enemy UAVs—including fast, maneuvering drones and loitering munitions. The drone carries a high-explosive fragmentation warhead and uses a combination of radar guidance, EO/IR sensors, and AI-enabled target recognition. Operators must confirm targets before engagement, ensuring accuracy and reducing risk of accidental activation.
BLAZE also incorporates multiple safety layers, including mission termination during the final approach, and an automated self-destruct mechanism triggered if communication is lost, the drone exits its assigned area, or a critical fault occurs. The system is designed for rapid field deployment, stored in a case that doubles as both launcher and charging unit. It can be assembled without tools in under 10 minutes and allows back-to-back launches within minutes, enabling quick responsiveness during high-intensity drone encounters.
