Blaze interceptor drone: Origin and WITU unveil new Polish fragmentation warhead at MSPO

Latvian drone manufacturer Origin and the Polish military institute Wojskowy Instytut Techniczny Uzbrojenia (WITU; Military Institute of Armament Technology) are to work even more closely together on counter-UAS. At the MSPO defence fair in Kielce, the partners are showing for the first time the Blaze autonomous interceptor drone with the latest version of a purpose-built fragmentation warhead. The system has already been introduced in several European NATO countries.

Fragmentation in a directed cone

With Blaze, Origin is pursuing a concept whose importance is growing in view of the increasing threat from drones and loitering munitions: drones are to be engaged with comparatively small, fast interceptor drones that fly autonomously.

Together with Poland's WITU, the Latvian company is now presenting the system at MSPO in Kielce with the latest version of a directed fragmentation warhead developed specifically for BLAZE.

Instead of integrating an existing munition, the two partners say they tailored the warhead to the interceptor drone and its mission profile from the outset. The compact module weighs 700 grams; on detonation, it produces a directed cone of high-velocity steel fragments. The aim is to achieve a concentrated effect against the aerial target without adding unnecessary weight to the aircraft.

Multiple safety features in the module

Particular attention was paid to safety during development. For this purpose, WITU also developed the so-called Electronic Safe and Arm Device (ESAD), which controls when the warhead can be armed and initiated.

The explosive charge, fragmentation package, electronically controlled fuze and mechanical safety devices are housed in a single module. The warhead initially remains safe; it is only armed once predefined flight conditions have been met.

Notably, this process can be reversed in flight. After an aborted interception, the warhead automatically reverts to a safe state, and Blaze can then fly back and land. If an attack actually takes place, however, the warhead is initiated at a precisely defined moment in the final interception phase.

The ESAD we developed for Origin's Blaze meets the same safety and standardisation requirements that we apply in our work for the Polish Armed Forces— Colonel Piotr Ruliński, Head of the Centre for Ballistics and Unmanned Systems at WITU

According to Ruliński, the cooperation also shows how Polish and Baltic industry could pool their respective strengths for NATO armed forces.

First NATO-codified interceptor drone

The new warhead has a NATO Stock Number (NSN). According to Origin, this makes Blaze the first NATO-codified autonomous interceptor drone offered with a Stanag-compliant warhead module.

Blaze itself is designed to engage fast aerial targets such as drones and loitering munitions. The system takes radar data directly and passes it on to the onboard autopilot. Blaze then flies autonomously towards the target, acquires and tracks it and finally carries out the interception under the supervision of an operator.

More manufacturing in Europe

At the same time, Origin is expanding its production capacity in Europe. According to the company, it is working with several electronics manufacturers that produce in Europe. The background is rising demand from NATO countries.

Blaze already has customers: Latvia was the first European country to order and take delivery of the system, followed, according to Origin, by Estonia, Belgium and France. According to the company, further allied countries are already in the procurement process.