Romania Tries Smart Drone‑Shooting Tech Near Ukraine Border

Romanian Air Base Tests AI‑Driven Drone Defense

At a Romanian air base on the Black Sea, soldiers watched as drones buzzed overhead before an AI‑driven system named Merops attempted to neutralize them. The device originates from Project Eagle, founded by former Google chief Eric Schmidt, and officials say it will join Romania’s air‑defence network within days.

Romania shares a long border with Ukraine, where Russian attacks on Danube ports have pushed many drones into Romanian airspace. To counter these incursions, Romania and other NATO members are accelerating upgrades to missile and radar systems.

Major General Arnoud Stallmann, from NATO’s transformation office, emphasized the seriousness of drone attacks and the need for rapid solutions. He spoke at a training range near Ukraine’s front lines.

Over two weeks, Romania tested commercial drones, sensors, and jamming tools while evaluating existing equipment. Merops—already operational in Ukraine and Poland—includes a ground station, launchers, and Surveyor drones that fly autonomously using AI and radar. The system can detect, track, and shoot down hostile aircraft.

Defence Minister Radu Miruta described the trial as a partial success. An interceptor once turned too sharply and missed, yet Miruta praised Merops’ heat‑sensing cameras and radar precision. He believes the system could shield Danube‑area regions, reducing difficult scenarios.

Romania’s current air defenses feature:

• F‑16 fighters
• Patriot missiles
• HIMARS rocket launchers
• Chiron short‑range missiles (South Korea)
• German Gepard anti‑air guns

The country plans to collaborate with Ukraine on drone development under the EU’s SAFE funding program.