Latvian FOG Surface Drone to Be Donated to Ukrainian Troops

The Ukrainian Defense Forces will add the Latvian-made FOG unmanned surface drone to their arsenal.

According to LSM.lv, Latvian charitable foundation Ziedot.lv purchased and delivered the drone to Ukraine using donations from private citizens and businesses.

The FOG was fully designed and manufactured in Latvia by the local company NEWT21. It was presented last May. The version of the unmanned surface vehicle intended for Ukrainian forces is configured for battlefield surveillance. Its carbon-fiber hull makes the drone both lightweight and durable.

According to the manufacturer, the naval drone has already covered 100 kilometers at sea during testing and is capable of traveling up to 700 kilometers in total.

The drone can be operated autonomously by preprogramming a mission, or remotely. Latvian charitable donors raised more than €100,000 for its purchase.

Ukrainian service members completed training on how to operate the drone at the end of last year.

According to the manufacturer’s website, the FOG unmanned surface drone weighs approximately 200 kg, with a payload capacity ranging from 100 to 200 kg. The hull is 4.5 meters long and 1.5 meters wide.

Its propulsion system is based on a 90-horsepower waterjet engine mounted in the stern. This provides a cruising speed of 50 km/h and a maximum speed of 78 km/h. The fuel tank capacity ranges from 30 to 200 liters, with a fuel consumption of about 11 liters per hour.

The drone is equipped with a day/night electro-optical system, including a television camera. The unit delivered to Ukraine is also fitted with a Starlink antenna to ensure uninterrupted communications.

In the spring of 2025, Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces received another unmanned surface vehicle produced by NEWT21 – the Rey catamaran drone. The platform is used to transport cargo, wounded personnel, and weapons across inland waterways.