What is the Merops Interceptor?
The Merops Interceptor is an AI-enabled counter-drone system made by Perennial Autonomy, a California defense startup launched by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. It is an interceptor drone built to shoot down attacking drones, and the registry records it downing over 4,000 Russian Shahed drones in Ukraine since mid-2024.
Key facts
- Form factor
- aerial
- Maturity
- commercial
- Verified deployments
- 3
- Maker
- Perennial Autonomy
What it is
The Merops Interceptor is a counter-drone defense system built by Perennial Autonomy, a California company founded in 2023. Its job is narrow and defensive: intercept and destroy hostile drones in flight.
Who is behind it
Perennial Autonomy was originally launched by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, under the earlier names Project Eagle and White Stork. Alongside Merops, the company makes the Bumblebee quadcopter and the Hornet midrange strike drone. Merops is its best-known system.
What is verified
This is a case where the deployment record is unusually strong. Per the registry, Merops has downed over 4,000 Russian Shahed drones in Ukraine since mid-2024, and DEPLOY records verified deployments in Ukraine's combat zones, with U.S. Central Command in the Middle East, and in Lithuania. Its systems are also used by Ukrainian, Polish, and Lithuanian militaries. On DEPLOY's maturity ladder it sits at the commercial stage, meaning production-grade systems operating at named sites, not a demo.
For how DEPLOY separates verified capability from company claims, see verified-vs-claimed.
Frequently asked
Who makes the Merops interceptor?
Perennial Autonomy, a California defense-technology company founded in 2023 and launched by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt (earlier known as Project Eagle and White Stork).
What does the Merops drone do?
It is a counter-drone interceptor: it intercepts and destroys hostile drones. The registry records it downing over 4,000 Russian Shahed drones in Ukraine since mid-2024.
Where is Merops deployed?
DEPLOY records verified deployments in Ukraine's combat zones, with U.S. Central Command in the Middle East, and in Lithuania.
Where it is deployed
3 verified deployments on the registry for the Merops Interceptor. Click any marker to open its primary-source record.
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