Two NATO Countries Deploy An Anti-drone System Tested In Ukraine
- 7.11.2025, 10:39
It is capable of effectively detecting and destroying Russian drones.
Following a series of incursions by Russian drones into NATO countries' airspace, the alliance has launched a major defense buildup on its eastern flank. Poland and Romania are already deploying the new U.S. Merops drone detection and destruction system tested in Ukraine, according to Associated Press.
The compact system, which fits in the back of a typical pickup truck, uses artificial intelligence to detect, follow and destroy drones even when satellite or radio communications are jammed. Merops is capable of autonomously approaching an enemy drone, analyzing the threat and opening fire - or transmitting data to other forces for interception.
"This system gives us very accurate detection and allows us to shoot down drones cheaply at low cost. It's much more effective than getting the F-35 up in the air to destroy drones with a missile," said Col. Mark McLellan of NATO's Joint Land Forces.
He said Merops will help protect both critical infrastructure and the Army's mobile units. The system has already begun to be deployed in Poland and Romania, and Denmark has also announced the purchase of the technology.
The need for such systems increased after some 20 Russian drones violated Polish airspace in September, and soon Romania and a number of European airports - in Munich, Berlin, Brussels and Copenhagen - had to temporarily shut down operations due to the appearance of drones.
Although not all the incidents could be directly linked to Russia, NATO acknowledges that the alliance is in need of a major defense modernization.
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"Merops is the first stage of building a new defense line, and this process will take two to five years," explained Brigadier General Thomas Lovin.
Investment in the system was made by former Google executive Eric Schmidt, who supports the development of military AI technology for Western armies.
Europe is building a "wall of drones"
The EU and NATO are working in parallel to create a unified "wall of drones" - a multi-layered system to counter drones from Norway to Turkey. As part of this project, the US proposes to deploy a network of sensors and command centers that would coordinate the defense of the eastern flank.
"We see what Russia is doing in Ukraine. And we have to be ready for it," said Brig. Gen. Zacarias Hernandez of NATO's Allied Forces Command.
The Merops system has already shown effectiveness in Ukraine, where it was tested during combat operations. It was these tests that were decisive in choosing the technology for Europe.