Deployment
Merops Interceptor at Ukraine
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 · 2 sources · not yet field-verified · Drones
Recent coverage
- Picogrid Providing Integration for Perennial Autonomy's MeropsBen Smith, Deploy Editor · 2026-06-17
- Pentagon Backs AI Counter-Drone Startup with $500 Million DealBen Smith, Deploy Editor · 2026-05-21
- Perennial Autonomy Wins $500M Pentagon Counter-Drone DealBen Smith, Deploy Editor · 2026-05-20
Merops interceptors deployed in Ukraine since mid-2024, downing 4,000+ Russian drones including Shahed-type one-way attack drones.
Safety record
No incidents on record for Merops Interceptor at Ukraine.
Only active incidents are counted. Retracted incidents are excluded from this summary but remain reachable at their canonical URLs.
- Trust tier
- Catalog entry · 2 sources · not yet field-verifiedhow tiers work →
- Last updated
- 2026-07-09
- Model
- Merops Interceptor
- Company
- Perennial Autonomy
- Location
- Ukraine
- Operator
- Perennial Autonomy
- Status
- operational
- Operator type
- maker operated
- First seen
- 2024-06-01
- ID
0d42c1a6-9d65-48d2-8cc3-4fa05bc8d44b
Timeline
- Jun 2024First recordedMerops Interceptor first documented operating at Ukraine.
- Jul 2026Current status: operational, reviewedLatest recorded state. New status transitions append here as the deployment-status recorder produces them.
On the deployment map
Merops Interceptor operates in Ukraine. Explore the full verified map:
Sources (2)
- Pentagon awards $500M contract · https://defensescoop.com/2026/05/19/pentagon-awards-500-million-contract-to-perennial-autonomy-for-counter-drone-systems/ · 2024-06-01
- Pentagon Awards $500M to Perennial Autonomy for Counter-Drone Interceptors Proven in Ukraine · https://insideunmannedsystems.com/pentagon-awards-500m-to-perennial-autonomy-for-counter-drone-interceptors-proven-in-ukraine/ · 2024-06-01
Methodology: Verified · 2 sources (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
- 2
- unclassified
- Unclassified source
The framework is documented at /methodology. Corrections at /corrections. Reviewer: DEPLOY editorial team.
Methodology surface for Merops Interceptor at Ukraine.Common questions
What is the Merops Interceptor deployment at Ukraine?
Who operates Merops Interceptor at Ukraine?
When did the Merops Interceptor deployment at Ukraine go live?
Have there been incidents at the Merops Interceptor deployment at Ukraine?
Deploy Watch
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We notify you when status changes against primary-source evidence, contract events surface, or a related incident is filed.
Machine-readable surfaces
- Markdown mirror: /deployments/merops-ukraine.md
- JSON-LD: embedded in this page’s head
- REST API: /v1/robots/0d42c1a6-9d65-48d2-8cc3-4fa05bc8d44b
- Data documentation: /data
- Query this programmatically: Deploy MCP