Latvia Develops Marine Drone PIKE With 80 km Range

Latvian startup SUBmerge Baltic has introduced its PIKE underwater drone, capable of operating at distances of up to 80 kilometers.

The drone was presented at the Drone Summit 2025 exhibition in Riga.

The company reported that the drones are designed for both civilian and military applications.

Key tasks include border monitoring and protection of underwater infrastructure, with future plans to adapt the drone for combat operations.

SUBmerge Baltic was founded by students from Riga Technical University, who noted the scarcity of versatile marine drones compared to the wide variety of aerial systems.

The drone was developed specifically for Latvian and Baltic conditions, where water visibility is often low.

PIKE is equipped with a high-resolution camera capable of real-time data transmission, along with sensors that track position, movement, and depth.

The first version can operate at depths of up to 300 meters with a range of 80 kilometers.

A second version, currently in development, is expected to extend the range to 150 kilometers, increase maximum depth to 500 meters, and carry payloads of up to 20 kilograms.

The team works to lower production costs by integrating machine learning algorithms to optimize navigation systems.

SUBmerge Baltic estimates that the current unit price of €100,000 could drop to around €75,000 if the planned improvements are implemented.

The project remains in development, with sales expected to begin in 2025.

Combat use

While initially designed for search and reconnaissance missions and real-time aquatic ecosystem monitoring, the team later identified the drone’s potential in defense applications.

The drone can carry out pre-programmed missions and operate autonomously. For example, during underwater cable inspections, it can detect specific vibrations and respond accordingly.

“We aim to develop a kamikaze drone in combination with a surface vehicle to strike deep targets in Russian-occupied areas. We are currently conducting local tests and plan joint trials with the Latvian Navy in June and July, followed by tests in Ukraine in September,” the company shared with Miltarnyi.

Currently, the company can produce five drones monthly and plans to scale up to twenty units.

“This year, we plan to deliver two drones to the Latvian Ministry of the Interior,” the company noted.

Marine drone development is also progressing in Ukraine. In February, Ukrainian developers presented an updated compact version of their Toloka underwater drone.