Romania is set to introduce the Merops anti-drone system into military service after the platform proved effective against Russian Shahed loitering munitions during operations in Ukraine. Senior Romanian defense officials confirmed that trained personnel are currently being prepared to operate the system, which has already been procured as part of efforts to counter the expanding drone threat facing NATO’s eastern member states.
The system has gained prominence after reports that Merops achieved over 1,000 successful drone interceptions in Ukraine, positioning it as a viable solution for defending against mass drone attacks. In addition to Romania, Poland is evaluating the system as part of a broader NATO initiative focused on enhancing counter-UAS capabilities along the eastern flank. Trials conducted with Shahed drone replicas reportedly demonstrated high interception success rates.
Merops was developed by Project Eagle, a US-based startup formed in response to the evolving realities of drone warfare following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The solution combines a truck-mounted launcher, command-and-control module, and the Surveyor interceptor UAV into a rapidly deployable system. Once launched, the Surveyor uses a mix of sensors, AI-driven target recognition, and autonomous guidance to locate and destroy incoming drones.
The interceptor reaches speeds of approximately 175 miles per hour and can neutralize threats using either kinetic impact or an explosive proximity blast. With an estimated unit cost of $15,000 per interceptor, Merops offers a financially sustainable alternative to traditional air defense missiles when facing large numbers of low-cost attack drones. Operated by a small four-person crew and requiring minimal training time, the system is designed for fast deployment, high mobility, and scalable defense operations.
