Romania has conducted field trials of the AI-enabled Merops counter-drone system at the Capu Midia Air Defence Training Range along the Black Sea, according to Reuters.
Romanian Defence Minister Radu Miruta stated that the system could become operational within days.
The Merops system comprises ground control stations, launch platforms, and Surveyor interceptor drones capable of detecting and engaging aerial threats using radar and AI-driven autonomous capabilities.
The two-week testing campaign included a wider evaluation of counter-UAS technologies, such as radars, sensors, and electronic warfare systems from multiple private-sector providers. Existing Romanian air defense systems were also assessed under operational conditions.
During the trials, one interceptor failed to engage due to evasive target maneuvers. However, the system demonstrated strong performance in detection accuracy, thermal imaging, and target tracking.
Developed by Project EagleMerops, the Merops system is intended to strengthen air defense along the Danube corridor, a region increasingly affected by spillover from the Ukraine conflict.
Earlier this year, Bucharest confirmed plans to induct the system, which is already deployed in Ukraine and undergoing testing in Poland as part of NATO’s efforts to reinforce its eastern flank.
The trials are part of Romania’s broader push to counter the growing drone threat, especially amid repeated incursions of Russian drones into its airspace during strikes on Ukrainian targets along the 650-kilometer shared border.
Romania’s current air defense network includes F-16 fighter jets, Patriot missile systems, and HIMARS launchers. Meanwhile, Bucharest and Kyiv are also exploring joint drone production under the European Union’s SAFE funding initiative.
