Romania is set to field the Merops anti-drone system after the platform demonstrated effectiveness against Russian Shahed loitering munitions.
The Romanian Armed Forces have already procured the system, and operator training is underway, the country’s Chief of the Defence Staff confirmed, as Bucharest moves to strengthen defenses against persistent drone threats.
Combat use in Ukraine has helped validate the system, with Merops reportedly credited with more than 1,000 successful interceptions of Shahed-type drones. Its performance has drawn interest from NATO partners, and Polish forces are currently testing the system as part of alliance efforts to bolster security along NATO’s eastern frontier.
Trials conducted using Shahed drone surrogates also confirmed the system’s interception capability, according to local media.
Merops was developed by U.S. startup Project Eagle, established in 2022 in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by the former Google CEO.
The counter-UAS solution integrates a ground control station, a vehicle-mounted launcher, and the Surveyor interceptor drone. Deployed from a military truck, the interceptor uses onboard sensors and artificial intelligence to locate, pursue, and engage hostile unmanned systems.
The Surveyor interceptor can be fitted with an explosive warhead and achieve speeds of up to 282 km/h (175 mph), neutralizing targets through direct collision or proximity-based detonation.
With an estimated unit cost of $15,000 per interceptor — compared with approximately $35,000 for a Shahed drone — Merops offers an economical and expendable means of defeating large volumes of incoming drones.
The system is operated by a four-person crew and can be brought into service quickly, with operators requiring as little as two weeks of training.
