- Latvia’s Ziedot.lv foundation funded and delivered a locally built FOG unmanned surface vessel to Ukraine for frontline maritime surveillance.
- The 200-kg drone, produced by NEWT21, features a 700-km range, 90-hp water-jet engine, and Starlink-equipped day/night surveillance suite.
Ukraine’s Defense Forces have received a Latvian-made FOG unmanned surface vessel after the system was purchased and sent to Ukraine by the Latvian charity foundation Ziedot.lv.
According to reporting by Militarnyi, the foundation funded the acquisition through donations from Latvian citizens and private companies. As noted by Ziedot.lv, the FOG platform was fully designed and manufactured in Latvia by the company NEWT21, which first unveiled the system in May of last year.
The version transferred to Ukraine is configured for frontline observation missions. The manufacturer states that the carbon-fiber hull keeps the vessel lightweight while maintaining durability for extended operations at sea. The drone has already completed a 100-kilometer trial run and is designed to travel up to 700 kilometers depending on mission load and fuel configuration.
The system may be operated autonomously through a pre-programmed route or controlled remotely. Ziedot.lv said over €100,000 was raised to fund the unit and its delivery.
Ukrainian personnel completed operator training late last year. According to detailed specifications published by the company, the FOG unmanned surface vessel weighs roughly 200 kilograms and accepts a payload between 100 and 200 kilograms. The hull measures 4.5 meters in length and 1.5 meters in width.
The propulsion system uses a 90-horsepower water-jet engine mounted at the stern. The manufacturer reports a cruising speed of 50 km/h and a maximum speed of 78 km/h. Fuel capacity ranges from 30 to 200 liters, with an approximate consumption rate of 11 liters per hour, depending on conditions.
The vessel carries a day/night electro-optical suite that includes a television camera for surveillance tasks. The unit delivered to Ukraine is fitted with a Starlink antenna to maintain stable data and command links during long-range operations.
The transfer expands Ukraine’s inventory of unmanned maritime systems at a time when naval drones continue to play a growing role in countering Russian forces in the Black Sea and coastal regions. The arrival of a domestically developed Latvian platform highlights the expanding European support network providing Ukraine with modern unmanned capabilities.