New Latvian Drone Startup Aims to Revolutionize Modern Warfare

A drone that can fly into battle, drop a bomb, and then come back home to fight another day. That's what a new defense tech startup from Latvia, Origin, is aiming to do. Founded in 2022 by Agris Kipurs and Ilya Nevdah, the team behind the popular Airdog drones used for extreme sports, Origin is now focusing on making affordable, reusable drones for military use. The war in Ukraine has shown that modern warfare is changing fast, and it's expensive. While big countries can afford lots of tanks and helicopters, smaller nations are looking for cheaper ways to defend themselves. That's where Origin comes in. Their flagship product, BEAK, is a drone that can carry and deliver munitions, and it's much cheaper than current options.BEAK can fly itself, has a camera, and can even withstand radio jamming. Plus, it's small enough to be carried by one person, making it perfect for wars like the one in Ukraine. Unlike some drones you might have seen, BEAK doesn't blow itself up. It drops its payload and comes back, ready to be used again. This could save a lot of money in the long run. Origin has already caught the attention of some NATO countries, although they can't be named for security reasons. The company recently raised €2. 4 million in funding, with support also coming from the Latvian Ministry of Defence. They believe that smaller countries, like Latvia, need this kind of tech to keep up in today's world.