The United States is preparing to deploy a new AI-powered anti-drone system called “Merops” to the Middle East to strengthen defenses against Iranian drones. The system was previously tested in Europe and Ukraine against drones used in modern conflicts. U.S. officials say current defenses in the region are not fully effective against large numbers of low-cost drones, particularly the Shahed drones produced by Iran, which have been widely used in warfare.
The Merops system works using drones that intercept other drones. It can be transported in the back of a pickup truck and uses artificial intelligence to identify, track, and approach hostile drones. Importantly, it can continue operating even when satellite signals or communications are jammed, allowing it to function in electronic-warfare environments.
One major reason for developing such systems is the cost imbalance in drone warfare. Iranian drones can cost under $50,000, while missiles used to shoot them down—such as those from Patriot defense systems—can cost hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. Military officials say this creates a “math problem,” where defending against cheap drones becomes extremely expensive if traditional missile defenses are used.
The Merops technology is produced by the defense company Perennial Autonomy, which has backing from former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. The U.S. plans to deploy the system at multiple locations across the Middle East, including areas where American forces are not permanently stationed. Officials hope the technology will provide a more affordable and flexible defense against growing drone threats in modern warfare.
