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Deployment

Merops Interceptor at U.S. Central Command (Middle East)

Perennial Autonomy is a defense technology company developing AI-enabled counter-drone systems, originally launched by former [Google](/companies/google) CEO Eric Schmidt as Project Eagle (formerly White Stork). Best known for the [Merops](/models/merops) interceptor drone, which has downed over 4,000 Russian Shahed drones in Ukraine since mid-2024, the company also produces the Bumblebee quadcopter and Hornet midrange strike drone. Its systems are deployed by U.S. forces in CENTCOM and by Ukrainian, Polish, and Lithuanian militaries.

Merops Interceptor by Perennial Autonomy · Catalog entry · 1 source · not yet field-verified · Drones

Track Merops Interceptor at U.S. Central Command (Middle East)

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13,000 Merops interceptors purchased by U.S. Army for CENTCOM operations against Iranian Shahed drones. Systems currently employed by U.S. forces in CENTCOM per JIATF-401.

Safety record

No incidents on record for Merops Interceptor at U.S. Central Command (Middle East).

Only active incidents are counted. Retracted incidents are excluded from this summary but remain reachable at their canonical URLs.

Trust tier
Catalog entry · 1 source · not yet field-verifiedhow tiers work →
Last updated
2026-07-09
Model
Merops Interceptor
Company
Perennial Autonomy
Location
U.S. Central Command (Middle East)
Operator
Perennial Autonomy
Status
operational
Operator type
maker operated
First seen
2025-04-01
ID
c7046976-74d4-4eca-be1b-602978595c65

Timeline

  1. Apr 2025
    First recorded
    Merops Interceptor first documented operating at U.S. Central Command (Middle East).
  2. Jul 2026
    Current status: operational, reviewed
    Latest recorded state. New status transitions append here as the deployment-status recorder produces them.

On the deployment map

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Merops Interceptor operates in U.S. Central Command (Middle East). Explore the full verified map:

Sources (1)

  1. Pentagon awards $500M contract · https://defensescoop.com/2026/05/19/pentagon-awards-500-million-contract-to-perennial-autonomy-for-counter-drone-systems/ · 2025-04-01
Methodology: Verified · 1 source (no primary) · last reviewed 2026-07-09

Verification posture

Verified

Low confidence

Review state

Stable

Last reviewed 2026-07-09

Maturity + lifecycle

Maturity stage: commercial

Lifecycle: active

Architectural position

Cohort: aerial

Sources by quality tier

1
unclassified
Unclassified source

The framework is documented at /methodology. Corrections at /corrections. Reviewer: DEPLOY editorial team.

Methodology surface for Merops Interceptor at U.S. Central Command (Middle East).

Common questions

What is the Merops Interceptor deployment at U.S. Central Command (Middle East)?
Merops Interceptor, built by Perennial Autonomy, is recorded as a deployment at U.S. Central Command (Middle East) on the DEPLOY registry. Perennial Autonomy operates the deployment directly.
Who operates Merops Interceptor at U.S. Central Command (Middle East)?
Perennial Autonomy, the manufacturer of Merops Interceptor, operates this deployment directly. This is a maker-deploys-its-own-product arrangement rather than a customer pilot.
When did the Merops Interceptor deployment at U.S. Central Command (Middle East) go live?
The deployment is recorded as starting April 1, 2025 on the DEPLOY registry. Earlier activity may exist but is not yet sourced.
Have there been incidents at the Merops Interceptor deployment at U.S. Central Command (Middle East)?
No active incidents affecting this deployment are recorded on the DEPLOY registry. Absence of recorded incidents is not a guarantee no incident occurred; DEPLOY records only sourced incidents and suppresses retracted ones.

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