On Friday, U.S. officials revealed that the American-made defense system “Merops,” which has been proven effective in countering Russian drones on the battlefield in Ukraine, will be deployed to the Middle East in the near future to strengthen the U.S. military’s defense capabilities against Iranian drones.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy confirmed on X platform that he has received formal requests from the United States and several Middle Eastern countries to send experts and military equipment to assist on the ground. He stated that the operation is expected to commence in the “coming days.”
According to two U.S. officials who spoke to the Associated Press, the upcoming deployment of the Merops system utilizes interception technology that involves using drones to counter other drones. The system is compact in size and can be mounted on the back of a medium-sized pickup truck, with the capability to identify and actively engage targets.
The core advantage of the system lies in its integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, enabling it to navigate autonomously and accurately strike targets even in situations where satellite navigation (GPS) or electronic communication is severely interfered with by the enemy.
U.S. Department of Defense officials pointed out that there is a limited effective defense against drones in the Middle East currently, and Iran’s “Shahed” suicide drones, which are from the same series as those used by Russia in Ukraine, pose a significant threat. The combat experience gained by the Ukrainian military in this field is considered a crucial asset.
Presently, Middle Eastern countries heavily rely on “Patriot” or “THAAD” missile systems to intercept threats, but using missiles costing millions of dollars each to shoot down low-cost drones priced at less than $50,000 is highly inefficient.
The defense official mentioned that the Merops system will be deployed to multiple locations in the Middle East, including areas where there are no U.S. military bases. The majority of the systems will be provided directly by the U.S. defense manufacturer Perennial Autonomy, a company backed by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, and this deployment will not affect defense deployments in Europe.
Reports indicate that Iranian drones are challenging to accurately target with radar systems primarily used to detect high-speed missiles and may even be mistaken for birds or aircraft. The Merops system is designed to detect and shoot down these drones, providing a significant cost advantage.
Jim Himes, the Chief Democratic Member of the House Intelligence Committee, stated this week, “We are quite adept at shooting down missiles. The more challenging aspect for us is the vast inventory of undetectable drones held by Iran, which are difficult to detect and shoot down.”
Himes expressed that drone attacks present a “math problem,” stating, “Using expensive missiles to take down low-cost drones is simply too costly.”
Michael Robbins, President and CEO of the drone industry group AUVSI, highlighted that the experiences in the Middle East and Ukraine emphasize the urgent need for the U.S. to accelerate the deployment of advanced anti-drone technology, so “our forces can defend bases and civilians without spending $1 million to thwart a $50,000 threat.”
Recently, Zelenskyy has engaged in discussions with leaders from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait regarding defense cooperation.
On Tuesday, Zelenskyy proposed a plan in which Ukraine would provide drone interception capabilities in exchange for the urgently needed “Patriot” intercept missiles from Middle Eastern partners to counter the ballistic missile threat from Russia.
When asked about Ukraine’s assistance willingness, U.S. President Trump stated, “Of course, I would accept any country’s offer to provide any form of assistance.”