US Scores First Iranian Shahed Kill with Merops Counter-Drone System Proven in Ukraine
American forces in Kuwait used the US-made Merops counter-drone system to intercept an Iranian Shahed one-way attack drone for the first time in combat, a US official told Business Insider. The system, which consists of a $15,000 interceptor drone capable of speeds over 175 mph and operated via Xbox controllers, has been proven in Ukraine where it downed over 1,000 Russian Shaheds. The US Army deployed Merops to the Middle East in March amid escalating conflict with Iran, which has seen dozens of Iranian missiles and drones intercepted but also resulted in four US service members killed and nearly 100 injured. Several Eastern European nations, including Poland, Romania, and Lithuania, have purchased the system following Russian incursions into NATO airspace. The Army has purchased thousands of interceptors and aims to reduce the unit cost below $10,000.
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