Autonomous systems and cheaper weapons… this is what small NATO countries need
NATO member states are working to enhance their defenses amid fears of a possible war with Russia.
Smaller NATO countries need two essential elements in terms of armament: first, unmanned autonomous systems to compensate for their limited populations, and second, low-cost means to repel attacks.
In remarks to the US outlet Business Insider, Aigars Kīpurs, CEO of the drone manufacturer Origin Robotics, based in Latvia, said that NATO — especially allies bordering Russia — requires specific capabilities to fight and win any future conflict.
Kīpurs explained that these small frontline states must invest in autonomous systems and find low-cost ways to counter enemy attacks — precisely the type of solutions his company develops.
He added that the company has supplied several systems to Ukraine, has research and development contracts with Latvia’s Ministry of Defence, and that Belgium recently approved the purchase of its interception systems.
Origin Robotics produces autonomous aerial systems, including an AI-powered drone-interception system called Blaze, as well as a precision-guided weapon launched from drones known as Beak, currently used in Ukraine.
Kīpurs stressed that his company uses feedback from Ukrainians to shape how its new systems are built to meet NATO requirements. “We take lessons from Ukraine, but we adjust our weapons systems for use in a NATO country. That is the market we are designing for,” he said.
Given that Russia possesses one of the largest armies in the world, small states with limited personnel can only counter it by relying on autonomous systems, according to Kīpurs. This technology allows armies to be “larger than their actual size” and to deploy swarms of drones.
“We need to build systems that can be operated within a small army, where one operator must accomplish far more than an operator in Ukraine. The only answer, or almost the only answer, is autonomous systems,” he said.
Regarding low-cost solutions, Kīpurs explained that finding affordable methods to stop large-scale attacks is also essential for countries with limited budgets, not only for small armies.
Launching massive waves of drones and missiles is one of Russia’s key tactics in Ukraine, which increasingly worries the West. Many acknowledge a gap in air defenses due to the insufficient number of available systems.
It is difficult to fire a 4-million-dollar Patriot missile at a Russian drone worth only a few thousand dollars.
Kīpurs noted that “when you look at available precision-strike capabilities, you are talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars for a single successful hit”.
In Ukraine, both sides have realised that ultra-precise strike capabilities are not sustainable in the long run. They have therefore increased reliance on drones and cheaper munitions. Kīpurs describes this as “cheap mass”, not the “expensive weapons” favored for decades by powerful armies.
