Overview
- NATO officials say initial Merops units are being fielded along the Polish and Romanian borders, with Denmark deciding to acquire the technology.
- Merops is small enough to ride in a pickup, uses AI for navigation when signals are jammed, and can cue or launch drones to defeat hostile UAVs.
- Commanders say the system improves low‑cost detection and engagement of small, slow targets that traditional air defenses struggle to spot.
- Recent incidents include roughly 20 drones entering Polish airspace, an incursion into Romania, temporary airport shutdowns in Copenhagen, Munich, Berlin and Brussels, and sightings near bases in Belgium and Denmark.
- Leaders position Merops as an initial step toward a two‑to‑five‑year plan for a layered Eastern Flank network, chosen after successful use in Ukraine.