On Tuesday, June 16, 2026, the second day of the 29th edition of Eurosatory 2026, the international defense industry exhibition organized by Coges Events and taking place on June 15–19 this year at Paris-Nord Villepinte near Paris, Latvia’s Origin Robotics announced that it had received an order from France’s Directorate General of Armaments (Direction générale de l’Armement, DGA), under the Ministry for the Armed Forces and Veterans, for the delivery of BLAZE autonomous interceptor drones. The deliveries, preceded by testing by the French military, will be carried out in cooperation with France’s DSV.
Photos: Origin Robotics
In recent months, the DGA conducted rigorous testing of solutions from multiple suppliers before selecting BLAZE as the preferred interceptor drone for the armed forces. The evaluation assessed the system’s performance against the French Armed Forces’ operational requirements, including its effectiveness in counter-drone operations and force protection scenarios.
Agris Kipurs, CEO and co-founder of Origin Robotics, said:
“France’s selection of BLAZE reflects the operational credibility the system has built through its deployments across Europe. We went through a demanding evaluation process and we are proud that BLAZE met every requirement the DGA set. Counter-drone capability has become a core requirement of modern warfare, and France is making the right investment at the right time.”
Under the terms of the agreement, partner company DSV will supply BLAZE units to the French Armed Forces and establish local assembly and manufacturing capabilities in France in cooperation with Origin Robotics. This initiative forms part of a broader technology transfer designed to strengthen French industrial and technological sovereignty in the counter-drone domain and develop a domestic supply chain under the “Made in France” label.
Eric de Trétaigne, CEO and founder of DSV, said:
“Following a thorough evaluation process conducted by the DGA, we are pleased to confirm that BLAZE has been selected to meet the French Armed Forces’ counter-drone requirements. This contract reflects both the operational capability of the system and the strength of our partnership with Origin Robotics. In the coming months, we will work together to establish local assembly and manufacturing of BLAZE in France, building a sovereign industrial capability in a domain that is increasingly critical to national defence.”
Delivery of the first BLAZE systems is scheduled to begin within weeks, with training to start immediately. Origin Robotics and DSV will continue developing their industrial partnership in the coming months as local manufacturing capabilities are established. BLAZE has NATO codification and is currently deployed operationally in Latvia, Belgium and Estonia. The French order marks the system’s fourth European operator.
BLAZE
According to the manufacturer, the BLAZE interceptor drone provides autonomous target acquisition and interception, combining radar detection with AI-assisted computer vision.
Radar navigation enables a precise approach to the target. The EO/IR sensor suite and AI-assisted recognition provide real-time identification and targeting. Operator confirmation of attack mode triggers an optimized interception approach vector, allowing the target to be hit with a high probability.
BLAZE ensures controlled and safe operation through built-in safety protocols and operator override capabilities. A three-level safety system ensures controlled arming of the drone and prevents unintended detonation. The Wave-Off function allows the mission to be aborted until the final approach to the target, while the self-destruct protocol is triggered if the designated operating area is breached, communications are lost or a critical failure occurs.
BLAZE is man-portable and mission-ready within minutes, designed for rapid deployment in dynamic conditions. The transport case also serves as the launch station and docking station. Drone configuration is tool-free, and the system is ready for flight in less than 10 minutes from deployment. The first drone takes off in less than five minutes, with subsequent launches following at intervals of less than one minute.
Video: Origin Robotics
Based on press release
Francijas Bruņotie spēki pretgaisa aizsardzības stiprināšanai izvēlējušies Latvijas uzņēmuma “Origin Robotics” un tā Francijas partnera “DSV” kopīgi piedāvāto autonomo bezpilota lidaparātu pārtvērējsistēmu “BLAZE”.
Par darījumu oficiāli paziņots 16. jūnijā starptautiskajā… pic.twitter.com/yy9UgU7psB
— Aizsardzības ministrija (@AizsardzibasMin) June 17, 2026