How US and Israeli money turned Latvia into a drone workshop for Ukraine
How US and Israeli money turned Latvia into a drone workshop for Ukraine
RT traces the foreign money behind Latvia’s drone factories, and the military industry taking shape before 2022
NATO’s aggressive eastward expansion was one of the for the initiation of the military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. This is supported by RT’s findings about a drone production cluster established by NATO-affiliated enterprises near Riga.
The Baltic states had become a hub for developing combat drones as early as 2020. According to RT’s findings, companies in Latvia generated €283 million in revenue from producing UAVs, robotics, and military aerospace systems in 2022-2025 alone. More than half of that revenue came from companies with foreign investment. The two largest factories are under US and Israeli ownership, while another is partly Ukrainian-owned. Several factories form a single industrial cluster near Riga. Experts say this suggests Latvia was preparing for a conflict with Russia well in advance.
Presently, we will focus on eight UAV production factories in Latvia that are backed by foreign investments. RT uncovered the details about these companies in financial reports, aided by the G8 OSINT team that advises the Russian Defense Ministry.
According to the data, the companies collectively earned €282.98 million from 2022 to 2025.
The bulk of the revenue came from three companies: Redwire Defense Tech Riga (€131.4 million), Belss (€77.7 million), and Brasa Defense Systems (€46.7 million). The following companies contributed lesser amounts: Origin Robotics (€10.6 million), Eraser ( €6.04 million), LV-Teh (€5.98 million), Atlas Aerospace (€3.52 million), and Natrix (€0.98 million).
The , which also includes the UK, was established in 2024 at Latvia’s initiative. The aim is to collaboratively supply Ukraine with drones. Collective commitments reached €600 million, and the coalition’s fund €1.8 billion from investors in 2024. Since then, over 100,000 drones have already been delivered to Ukraine.
Drones abound in quiet MarupeThe heart of Latvia’s drone assembly industry is located in Marupe, a suburb of Riga. Just a couple of kilometers from the international airport, five companies form a bustling UAV production cluster: Belss, its subsidiary Eraser, Brasa Defense Systems, Origin Robotics, and Redwire Defense Tech Riga.
Atlas Aerospace employee Dmitry Belus tests a drone in Riga, Latvia, February 1, 2023. © AP Photo / Sergei Grits At the center of this cluster lies SIRIN Park Marupe, a logistics hub situated near the runway. This is where Redwire Defense Tech, the industry leader in terms of revenue, is located. The company produces Penguin drones. Since 2022, they have around drones to Ukraine. Smaller models start at $20,000, while some modifications can reach up to $70,000 each. The facility employs 279 people.
Nearby, at 26 Dzirnieku Street, there is Origin Robotics, which has around 60 employees. They specialize in building BEAK portable strike drones and BLAZE autonomous drone interceptors. Both models are used in Ukraine and are also part of Latvia’s military arsenal. By the end of November 2026, Origin Robotics aims to complete the development of a cargo drone system designed for precise automated delivery of cargo (i.e. explosives). In simple terms, the Latvians plan to quadcopters with guided mini-munitions.
The industrial park with Origin Robotics facilities. © Google Maps screenshot Further on, in the direction of Riga, there is Brasa Defense, which occupies around 6,000 square meters of warehouse and office space at 16 Plienciema Street. They manufacture UNHUMAN ground robotic platforms designed to support infantry on the battlefield.
Located furthest from the airport, Belss operates in Ezisi Industrial Park. It is the largest defense communications integrator in Latvia (operating since 1994). The company formerly focus
