How Poland and Romania Leverage Merops to Stop Russian Drones
While NATO has long relied on expensive fighter jets and missiles for air defense, Poland and Romania have deployed the Merops drone-killer system this November 2025 to counter low-cost Russian drones along their Eastern borders. The Merops system, fielded after recent Russian drone incursions, combines a compact launch platform and the Surveyor interceptor drone that has scored nearly 2,000 combat kills in Ukraine. But this isn’t just about defending airspace — it’s about playing a different cost game to build scalable deterrence.
Unlike conventional air defenses that spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on missiles for targets worth fractions of that, the Merops system leverages cheap interceptors costing around $15,000 each to take down drones valued at more than double that, including the high-speed Shahed-style reconnaissance and attack drones. This cost asymmetry flips the economics of air defense by repositioning constraints from expensive kinetic assets to affordable, reusable drones.
Poland and Romania trained with US Army specialists this week, showing how the mobile and user-friendly Merops system can be deployed flexibly from pickup trucks or fixed stations. The system's ability to operate autonomously or by remote pilots, resist electronic warfare, and reuse interceptors via parachutes during training demonstrates strategic leverage through automation and system design, drastically reducing operational friction.
“We have got to find lower costs — both sensors and effectors,” said US Army Brig. Gen. Curtis King, capturing why NATO desperately needed this capability on its Eastern flank.
Why Relying on Traditional Deterrence Misses the Point
Conventional NATO thinking leaned heavily on expensive fighter jets and air-to-air missiles, as seen when jets fired costly missiles to shoot down inexpensive Russian drones violating Polish airspace. This mismatch escalates costs, creating a strategic imbalance. The Merops system challenges this by automating drone interception with reusable, low-cost interceptors, reducing the need for high-cost human and material intervention.
Unlike bulky missile systems or manned aircraft, the Merops system operates with a compact four-person crew, letting NATO scale counter-drone coverage rapidly without massive manpower or capital investment. This is similar in principle to systems thinking, where repositioning bottlenecks creates compounded operational advantages.
Merops Beats Alternatives by Targeting the Right Constraints
Some air defenses focus on all drone threats, including small, low-flying FPV drones. But the Merops system prioritizes bigger, one-way attack and reconnaissance drones that dominate in Eastern Europe. By matching the $15,000 Surveyor interceptor against drones worth about $35,000 apiece, NATO secures clear economic leverage, unlike strategies relying on missiles costing hundreds of thousands per kill.
Compared to older systems that cannot handle the newer jet-powered Russian drones, Merops is built for evolving threats, maintaining a 95% operational success rate. This adaptability allows NATO to stay ahead despite Russia’s moves to more advanced drone technology.
Unlike more expensive platforms that require years of training, Merops operators can be upskilled within weeks, another clear example of leveraging workforce flexibility for faster deployment and scale.
The New Constraint Is Cost-Efficient Deterrence at Scale
The shift isn’t just technological — it’s a strategic repositioning of constraints. NATO’s real bottleneck became the cost-per-intercept and training time. Merops reduces these dramatically by deploying reusable drones, automating targeting, and requiring minimal personnel.
Countries facing drone incursions beyond Poland and Romania should watch closely. The system’s modular mobility means Eastern Europe can replicate or enhance this model quickly without suffering traditional procurement delays.
“Lower-cost effectors multiplied across a fast-learning force create a strategic shield that scales without exhausting resources.” This fundamental shift in defense economics redefines deterrence for drone warfare.
Related Tools & Resources
The Merops system’s success hinges on streamlined operations and rapid training, which are critical in fast-paced, high-stakes environments. For organizations looking to leverage operational efficiency and clearly document procedures like those described here, platforms like Copla offer powerful solutions for creating and managing standard operating procedures that ensure consistency and scale. Learn more about Copla →
Full Transparency: Some links in this article are affiliate partnerships. If you find value in the tools we recommend and decide to try them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools that align with the strategic thinking we share here. Think of it as supporting independent business analysis while discovering leverage in your own operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Merops drone-killer system and how does it work?
The Merops drone-killer system combines a compact launch platform with the Surveyor interceptor drone to autonomously or remotely intercept and destroy enemy drones. It uses reusable, low-cost interceptors costing around $15,000 each to take down higher-value drones, enabling scalable and cost-efficient air defense.
How does the cost of Merops interceptors compare to traditional missile systems?
Merops interceptors cost approximately $15,000 each, significantly cheaper than traditional missiles which can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per shot. This cost asymmetry allows for more sustainable air defense against drones valued at roughly $35,000 apiece.
Which countries have deployed the Merops system for drone defense?
Poland and Romania deployed the Merops drone-killer system in November 2025 to counter Russian drone incursions along their Eastern borders, supported by US Army specialists in training and deployment.
What advantages does Merops provide over conventional air defense systems?
Unlike bulky missile systems and expensive fighter jets, Merops operates with a compact four-person crew and features automated targeting and reusable interceptors. This reduces manpower, cost-per-intercept, and training time while maintaining a 95% operational success rate against advanced drone threats.
How quickly can operators be trained to use the Merops system effectively?
Merops operators can be upskilled within weeks, enabling NATO to rapidly scale its counter-drone coverage without extensive training periods typical of older air defense platforms.
Why is cost-efficiency critical in modern air defense against drones?
Cost-efficiency is critical because traditional systems use expensive missiles against low-cost drones, creating a strategic imbalance. Merops flips this by using affordable, reusable drones costing $15,000 each to neutralize higher-value targets, preserving resources and enabling scalable deterrence.
What types of drones does the Merops system primarily target?
Merops focuses on bigger reconnaissance and one-way attack drones like the jet-powered Shahed-style models common in Eastern Europe, rather than smaller low-flying FPV drones, to maximize strategic and economic advantage.
Can the Merops system operate in electronic warfare environments?
Yes, the Merops system is designed to resist electronic warfare and can be operated autonomously or by remote pilots, ensuring operational reliability under contested conditions.