Ukraine's Defence Forces are equipped with the Merops anti-drone system details of its delivery remain classified, and it is still unknown how long Ukrainian troops have been using it to repel drone attacks launched by russian occupation forces. However, it is known that the system has already carried out over 1,000 interceptions of Shahed-type attack UAVs.
Business Insider reported that Merops is in operational use in Ukraine, highlighting that the system received highly positive feedback from Ukrainian operators. As a result, Polish, American, and Romanian troops are now training to operate it at a military training centre in Poland.
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The Merops system was developed under the US-led Project Eagle, which involves former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, who is also the director of Swift Beat a company shrouded in secrecy that is expected to manufacture drones for Ukraine.
In practice, the Merops complex is built around Surveyor interceptor drones. A full system includes a ground control station, launchers, and the interceptor UAVs themselves.
For example, during training in Poland, the UAVs are launched directly from ordinary pickup trucks. This means Merops can be used both against long-range UAVs and to hunt down enemy reconnaissance or strike drones near the frontline.
Surveyor interceptor drones can operate autonomously or via remote control. They are equipped with sensors for target tracking and carry what is described as a small warhead but one sufficient to destroy Shahed-type drones.
Although the full technical specifications remain undisclosed, the report provides one key parameter: a speed of over 175 mph (more than 280 km/h). Ukraine, however, has domestically produced interceptors that exceed this for example, the Wild Hornets' drone, capable of speeds over 300 km/h.
According to the publication, the Surveyor interceptor is supposedly fast enough to engage jet-powered drones. For comparison, russia's jet-powered Geran-3 can fly at around 300 km/h.The interceptor is also claimed to be resistant to electronic warfare.
The price of a single Surveyor interceptor drone is $15,000. This is cheaper than a Shahed but significantly more expensive than comparable Ukrainian-made alternatives.
As for the Merops system itself, it remains unclear how many launchers are included in one unit. It is noted, however, that the operating crew consists of four people a commander, a pilot, and two technicians and the training period is relatively short, only two weeks.
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