Two of Europe's fastest-growing defense startups are joining forces to build a single, layered shield against drones. German counter-drone company Alpine Eagle and Latvian defense-technology firm Origin Robotics signed a memorandum of understanding on June 16 to fuse Origin's BLAZE interceptor with Alpine Eagle's Sentinel architecture, creating an integrated sensor-to-effector network that can detect, track and defeat aerial threats.
Stitching sensors to interceptors
The partnership pairs complementary halves of the counter-drone problem. Alpine Eagle's Sentinel combines airborne and ground-based radar with distributed sensor networks, all orchestrated through its Sentinel-OS software platform for early detection and situational awareness. Adding Origin Robotics' BLAZE, a radar-guided autonomous interceptor for drones and loitering munitions, gives the system a hard-kill response option inside one operational picture. "Integrating BLAZE into Sentinel expands our sensor-to-effector architecture and gives customers another effective layer within a broader counter-drone network," said Jan-Hendrik Boelens, co-founder and CEO of Alpine Eagle.
A NATO-codified interceptor goes layered
BLAZE is already a NATO-codified platform deployed by multiple member states, using radar data to guide an onboard autopilot that approaches, acquires and intercepts targets under operator supervision. "The future of drone defence depends on combining the right sensors, software and effectors. No single system can solve the challenge alone," said Agris Kipurs, co-founder and CEO of Origin Robotics. The companies plan to prioritize technical integration, customer demonstrations and operational validation, and intend to establish local manufacturing of BLAZE in Germany.
Europe's defense-tech consolidation accelerates
The deal reflects a broader shift in European defense procurement, where specialized startups increasingly bundle their technologies into integrated systems rather than wait on slow, monolithic programs. Demand has surged as the war in Ukraine and large-scale drone attacks elsewhere expose gaps in layered air defense. Both companies will showcase the integration effort at Eurosatory 2026 in Paris, the same venue hosting the U.S. Army's expanded counter-drone marketplace and a wave of counter-UAS launches including AeroVironment's Halo_Shield and Electro Optic Systems' European C2 hub.
Reporting based on coverage from DRONELIFE, Alpine Eagle and Origin Robotics.