The Romanian Armed Forces is set to induct the Merops anti-drone system into service after it proved effective against Russia’s Shahed drones.
A team of operators is currently undergoing training on the system, which has already been procured to counter the growing threat posed by Russian drones, Romania’s Chief of the Defence Staff General Gheorghiță Vlad announced.
“We received a drone combat system. Its name is Merops. We have prepared the teams to operate this system and very soon we will introduce it into the airspace defense operation, an operation that is currently underway in Romania,” Vlad said in a press conference.
Already deployed in Ukraine, the cost-effective system is also being tested by Polish forces as part of a NATO initiative aimed at strengthening the alliance’s eastern flank.
The system has drawn the attention of NATO allies after reportedly achieving more than 1,000 interceptions of Shahed-type drones in Ukraine.
During testing, it also proved effective against replicas of Russian Shahed drones, according to Romanian media reports.
Merops System
The Merops system was developed by the US startup Project Eagle, launched by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Merops integrates a ground control station, a launch platform, and the fast-moving Surveyor interceptor drone into a single system.
Launched from the rear of a military truck, the Surveyor employs a range of sensors and artificial intelligence tools to detect, track, and intercept hostile drones.
The interceptor can carry an explosive warhead and reach speeds of up to 282 kilometers (175 miles) per hour, destroying targets either through a direct collision or a proximity detonation.
Each Merops interceptor reportedly costs about $15,000 — well below the estimated $35,000 cost of an Iranian-designed Shahed drone — making the system an attritable and cost-effective option against large-scale drone attacks.
The entire system can be operated by a four-person crew, comprising a commander, a pilot, and two technicians, who can be trained in as little as two weeks.