Cheaper than the Shahed. The Pentagon tested Merops interceptor drones in Iran.

The Merops system during an exercise in Poland, November 2025.

The Pentagon is actively seeking new ways to counter attack drones. A large number of them have been purchased for this purpose. dronesMerops interceptors. Successful use of similar technology is now being reported in a military operation against Iran: light interceptors targeted enemy long-range attack UAVs.

Urgently

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran. By March 6, the Associated Press reported that the American Defense It doesn't fully cope with the tasks assigned to it. It was decided to strengthen it with the help of specific technology.

In addition to the existing air defense systems, it was decided to send unmanned aerial vehicles to the Middle East bases. aviation Merops interception systems. The well-known "Shahed-136" and its modifications were considered as a typical target.

The media reports soon received official confirmation. Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll personally announced the air defense reinforcement. He noted that Merops systems began to be delivered to the active army just five days after the operation began. The plan was to deliver 10 interceptors and a large number of associated systems.

First results

On April 6, the Secretary of the Army testified before Congress. He outlined the key results of ground forces' combat performance during the Iranian campaign and touched on the topic of UAV interceptions, providing new figures and timelines.

According to the report, eight days after the outbreak of hostilities, the Pentagon managed to acquire 13 Merops interceptors. The first batches of the equipment quickly arrived in the Middle East, and their combat use began.

The Minister of the Army stated that Merops was able to intercept a significant number of Iranian attack UAVs. However, specific data and the most significant indicators of combat use were not provided.

D. Driscoll touched on the topic of cost. With continued serial production, the price of one interceptor could drop to $10. Iranian Shahed missiles, according to American estimates, cost between $30 and $50. The minister called this difference a significant advantage.

international experience

Interestingly, the US Army is far from the first to operate Merops systems. Several foreign countries have already acquired this technology.

The Merops project was developed as part of the larger Project Eagle program launched by the Pentagon. Its goal was to create specialized interception systems for transfer to Ukraine. The product was developed in 2023-24, quickly completed a testing cycle, and entered production.

Production began no later than the first half of 2024. By May-June, production samples had arrived in Ukraine. Open sources reported the transfer of several thousand UAVs and related equipment.

In November 2025, the US Defense Department disclosed the results of their use for the first time. It was claimed that the interceptors shot down over 1900 Geranium missiles—at least 40% of the total number of such targets. More detailed statistics were not provided, making an independent assessment difficult.

Last fall, the first batches of Merops were delivered to the armed forces of Poland and Romania. By the beginning of winter, the systems were deployed along the eastern borders, bolstering the two countries' air defenses. The purchase was justified by the notorious Russian aggression.

At the same time, interest from Denmark was reported. Manufacturing companies are also expecting orders from other countries.

Technical part

Merops is an unmanned aerial system designed to intercept attack UAVs. The specific characteristics of these types of targets allowed for a simpler design and lower cost.

The system consists of several disposable interceptors, a launcher, a control panel, a compatible detection system, and a set of auxiliary devices. Everything is transportable in a pickup truck or other suitable vehicle.

The main element is the AS3 Surveyor drone. It has an elongated fuselage with a streamlined nose and flat tail. Attached to the fuselage is a straight wing with large vertical stabilizers and an X-shaped stabilizer. The length and wingspan do not exceed 1 meter.

The battery is housed inside the fuselage. An electric motor with a pusher propeller is located in the tail. Flight speeds reach 260-280 km/h. The range is likely no more than 15-20 km.

The Surveyor is equipped with a remote control system with autopilot mode and a radio for two-way communication with the operator. Depending on the version, the UAV can be equipped with:

• course video camera;
  
• infrared homing head;
  
• radar homing head.

At various stages of flight, remote or autonomous control is used. The developers also point to the presence of artificial intelligence elements.

The interceptor is capable of carrying a small warhead and delivering fragments to its target. Kinetic interception is also possible—the UAV's speed is sufficient to cause significant damage to aerial targets.

A pneumatic catapult, consisting of a guide tube fed with compressed gas, is used for launch. A tube with a closed front end, which transmits the impulse, is suspended from the drone; after launch, it is released.

The system can incorporate various detection, communications, and combat control systems. For example, last fall's exercises demonstrated the use of the Leonardo MHR compact radar. Air situation data can also be received from third-party sources via standard communication channels.

Bottom line

The Merops interception system has already been used in two armed conflicts. Both operating parties have given it a positive assessment, but detailed information remains classified. This prevents an objective assessment of the system's true potential.

Despite these questions, the US is actively promoting Merops for export and is counting on new contracts. In this light, the current assessments appear to be part of a marketing campaign. How effective this will be will become clear in the near future.

Comments

[SmolH2]

It's hard to understand anything concrete from this article, much less draw any conclusions. It's either cool, or it's PR and deception. More likely, something in between. I'm expecting a raid by the doomsayers.

[TermNachTer]

American products can't be cheap—in principle. Cheap products aren't profitable to produce.

[Shurik70]

But the concept itself – that drones should fight drones – is correct.
And if their tactics are based on the swarm principle, interception will be reliable.
As for the cost, even if the interceptor is 10 times more expensive than the target, in a US/Iran economic standoff, the US will win.

[TermNachTer]

There have been numerous attempts to combat UAVs. There's still no definitive answer.

[SmolH2]

I already wrote about this in a similar note, like they'll produce it in China for that kind of money))

[TermNachTer]

The Chinese have taken blocking dual-use goods very seriously. To purchase components from them, you have to present very strong arguments that the product is not for military purposes.

[knn54]

-It is not profitable to produce cheap things.
Namesake, large quantities negate the trade markup. Take us and Germany, for example. During acute respiratory disease epidemics, our pharmacists raise prices, while theirs (information from 10 years ago) is the opposite.
-You can't profit from the sick.
-Profit comes from large sales.
Even cheaper is the Ukrainian-British interceptor drone (with similar performance characteristics) Octopus-100. But that's different.

[TermNachTer]

Name me one example of American weaponry, whether naval, airborne, or land-based, that's inexpensive? Everywhere I look, the prices are simply exorbitant.

[RVAPatriot]

Another Wunderwaffe, for those willing to pay... And the country needs 404 to test it... but it doesn't seem to be helping much.

[yuriy55]

Quote: RVAPatriot

Another Wunderwaffe,

They took the words right out of my mouth, and here's proof of that:

The Merops interception system has already been used in two armed conflicts. Both operating parties have given it a positive assessment. However, detailed information remains classified.

[RVAPatriot]

It's not clear from the language, but knowing how they promote it, this is another scam, I hope

[bayard]

Quote: yuriy55

Quote: RVAPatriot
Another Wunderwaffe,
They took the words right out of my mouth, and here's proof of that:

It's not a wunderwaffe—both we and the x0xL0v have functional equivalents that are actively used. We call it "Yolka," the Sumerians something like "DiLD0." They (the Sumerians) even transported their creations (actually British ones) to the UAE, along with their crews, to provide air defense against Shahids. But they failed the task, and out of habit, they dropped a couple of them on skyscrapers... and kicked them out. True, both they and we have interceptors with four engines and take off vertically, while the Penguins have to launch theirs from a catapult or an inclined launcher, since they share a single engine and propeller.
But both we and the Sumerians have very effective interceptors against classic Shahids with speeds of up to 200 km/h. And they can even be used against ground targets. And I wonder if these American toys have started flying into our rear areas at ranges of up to 80 and almost 100 km? And they're all targeted by air defense systems. Even today... pardon, yesterday, something like that flew all the way to the outskirts of Donetsk. And the bastards don't make any noise!! The motor is electric, battery-powered...
So they're already being used, and war correspondents have been writing about this new scourge for quite some time. And it's an effective pest... It's not hard to come up with an analogue (with a single propeller and as a universal weapon) and it can be made very quickly... But the countermeasures... It has a speed of about 400 km/h, and it's inaudible on approach.
As an interceptor, our "Yolka" would probably be better and more maneuverable, but as a general-purpose strike vehicle... this nasty thing is better—it's QUIETER; you can't tell when it's approaching. Because it has ONE propeller, and its approach speed (including dive) is up to 450 km/h.

[Livonetc]

Whether it is true or not, the practice of application will still become known.
We ourselves need inexpensive and effective means to combat enemy drones.
We're still missing a lot.

[Cool90]

There was a recent video of a Ka-52 shooting down a drone with a single cannon shot, and there's another video of a Ka-52 shooting down 25 drones in two sorties with its cannon. It's a very effective and inexpensive means of combating enemy drones.
They let through only a dozen out of 300, and even then, it's mostly drones that break windows in houses.

[Illanatol]

The Ka-52 is quite expensive and sometimes suffers losses. For counter-drone operations, it's preferable to use either simpler and cheaper helicopters armed with small-caliber cannons or machine guns, or to equip fixed-wing drones with machine guns and target acquisition systems.

[bayard]

Quote: Illanatol

Ka-52s are quite expensive and sometimes suffer losses.

In this case, we're talking about using 30mm projectiles with controlled detonation, so the projectiles themselves are expensive, but with sufficiently precise aiming, fire can be delivered even in single shots or extremely short bursts (2-3 projectiles per burst). This is how fire is currently conducted.

Quote: Illanatol

it is preferable to use either simpler and cheaper helicopters,

The problem is, we don't have them in serial production yet. A pre-production batch of NK-650s was built for testing on the Ansat, Ka-226, and also on the single-engine Mi (I'm afraid I'm confusing the number, it's very small and round). By the time all the testing and refinement are completed and certification is finished, the war will probably be over. Besides, the Ka-52M has an excellent radar and an optical-thermal imaging sighting system. Let's not forget that attack UAVs usually fly at night. So it's not just a simple "game" – searching for and destroying a small, low-contrast (extremely low RCS), low-speed, low-altitude target in the night sky. Without a good synthetic aperture radar and a thermal imaging sighting system, you won't achieve much in this battle.

[Cool90]

The Ka-52, like other helicopters, such as the An-64, sometimes crashes in peacetime. This is a normal part of combat training, and a 30mm projectile is a cheap way to destroy drones, especially with a single shot.

[rytik32]

Depending on the modification, the UAV can receive:
course video camera;
infrared homing head;
radar homing head

The second and especially the third options cannot be cheaper than a martyr.

[Toby Dammit]

If they come off the assembly line in tens of thousands, then why not?

[Cool90]

Radar and infrared guidance are always very expensive

[rytik32]

You've already received an answer below. Plus, labor costs in the US are very high.

[bayard]

Quote: rytik32

The second and especially the third options cannot be cheaper than a martyr.

That's true, but for night interception, this (IR) is precisely what's needed. And the Shaheds typically fly at night. A simplified IR seeker with laser target illumination from the ground, like the new 70mm NUR-based RVVs, could be installed. That would be cheaper, but only at line-of-sight range. For longer-range interception, only a full-fledged seeker with a guidance operator or built-in targeting software for typical targets is needed. The latter would be much more expensive, but also more effective, and the interception radius would increase exponentially.
One consolation: our Geranium jets won't be able to defeat this interceptor—their speed is too low. But they are quite effective against the Geranium-2, which travels at up to 200 km/h. The Sumerians have a functional equivalent of this interceptor, and they use it quite effectively. We also have an equivalent—the Yolka. And it's also quite effective.
The problem is that these American wonder weapons, the Sumerians, have also begun to be used as universal strike weapons, and they fly as far as 80, sometimes even 100 km into our rear areas. And they usually target air defense systems. They even fly as far as Donetsk. They have an electric motor and a single propeller, so they are inaudible, and their attack speed is up to 400-450 km/h. And this has already become a problem. Military bloggers wrote about this the other day, and I've already heard their incoming attacks several times and seen the consequences. A difficult target to detect and intercept – their radar cross-section is tiny, and their sound is inaudible.

[rytik32]

Quote: bayard

A difficult target to detect and intercept - the RCS is tiny, and the sound is inaudible.

This means that all hope lies in air defense systems with an optical-electronic target search system.

[bayard]

Continuous optoelectronic scanning... it's complicated and expensive... and not far away. Not long ago, war correspondents wrote about this nasty thing that had appeared, and it became clear to me what kind of strange incoming sounds I hear from time to time, but there's no air defense activity, no sound (motor, propeller/propellers) of any kind. With a total frontline length of 2000 km... this is a problem. And it needs to be solved in the Persian style. And it's not difficult to replicate this as a means of destruction. It is necessary to make a POLITICAL decision to solve the air defense problem quickly, definitively, and within a short timeframe. The means for this exist, the methods and techniques are known; if the General Staff can't cope, the Chief General Staff needs to be replaced. But we can't leave things to chance. It's not even about finding an antidote or a countermeasure, but about small size, high speed, low visibility, and low cost. That is. There will soon be a LOT of them. You don't play this kind of game when you're relaxed. To win, you have to make a political decision - TO WIN.

[Maks1995]

Anything is possible. If the range is short, as stated, then the main cost = complexity – on the AI ​​targeting system. So that it can catch up and shoot down.

And if it is conditionally reusable (i.e. durable) - that would be great.

[Scipio]

A reusable interceptor? What kind of miracle is that? Maybe they should make the missiles for the S-300/400/500 and other systems "robust" too...

[Cool90]

This is an analogue of the *Yelka* UAV, it seems that after a kinetic strike the *Yelka* UAV can be reused

[Prisoner]

They're promoting themselves like Trapushka. "Cheaper" for an American manufacturer is an insult to the entire chain of descent, seven generations back.

[Viktor Sergeev]

American and cheaper? Yeah, we all believe it.

[bk0010]

UAVs should be intercepted by UAVs (cheap and numerous), not by missiles. The key here is to address the detection issue.