Robot model
Merops Interceptor
Perennial Autonomy is a defense technology company developing AI-enabled counter-drone systems, originally launched by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt as…
- Manufacturer
- Perennial Autonomy
- Form factor
- aerial
- Maturity
- commercial
- Lifecycle
- active
- Deployments
- 3
The verified answer
As of Aug 2026, DEPLOY verifies Merops Interceptor, a aerial by Perennial Autonomy (commercial): 3 verified deployments on record. 2 sources back the record.
Appears inMilitary & defense drones
Overview
Perennial Autonomy is a defense technology company developing AI-enabled counter-drone systems, originally launched by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt as Project Eagle (formerly White Stork). Best known for the 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.
Verified vs. claimed
- Maturity stage
- commercial(Commercially deployed with revenue-generating operations.)
- Sources on file
- View all sources →
Key facts
Founder
Pentagon contract
Combat record
Unit cost
Product family
Also known as
CEO
Former names
Key contract
Merops unit cost
Bumblebee delivered
Specs
Max speed
Weight kg
Data & sources
Web sources
2
2 sources backing this record.View all →
Pricing
No verified price is on record for Merops Interceptor. Physical-AI systems are often sold through enterprise contracts or operated as a service rather than at a public list price.
Deployments (3)
- Merops Interceptor at Lithuaniaoperational
Lithuania purchased 48 Merops interceptors, joining the U.S.
13,000 Merops interceptors purchased by U.S.
- Merops Interceptor at Ukraineoperational
Merops interceptors deployed in Ukraine since mid-2024, downing 4,000+ Russian drones including Shahed-type one-way attack drones.
Merops Interceptor on the deployment map
View the global mapWhere Merops Interceptor is verified operating. Explore the deployment map by place and type.
Recent activity
Every change to this record is dated, sourced, and independently verified where marked.
- Price point recordedJul 8, 2026
Not announced
- Record createdJul 6, 2026
Added to the verified registry
- Deployment verifiedVerifiedMay 5, 2026
at Lithuania
- Deployment verifiedVerifiedApr 1, 2025
at U.S. Central Command (Middle East)
- Deployment verifiedVerifiedJun 1, 2024
at Ukraine
Safety record
No incidents on record for Merops Interceptor.
Only active incidents are counted. Retracted incidents are excluded from this summary but remain reachable at their canonical URLs.
Sources (2)
Common questions
What is Merops Interceptor?
How much does Merops Interceptor cost?
Is Merops Interceptor actually deployed in the real world?
What are the specs of Merops Interceptor?
Who makes Merops Interceptor?
Where is Merops Interceptor deployed?
Can you buy Merops Interceptor?
What are alternatives to Merops Interceptor?
How does Merops Interceptor compare to Skydio X10?
Is Merops Interceptor a top aerial?
What is Merops Interceptor's maturity stage?
Is Merops Interceptor safe?
What is the Merops drone interceptor?
Methodology: Verified · 2 sources (no primary) · last reviewed 2026-07-15
Verification posture
Verified
Low confidence
Review state
Stable
Last reviewed 2026-07-15
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.Recent coverage
Merops Interceptor in third-party press
Attention vs reality over time
Media mentions per month (area) against verified deployment events (dots). A press spike over a flat deployment line is the hype gap, drawn over time.
In the press
Recent coverage mentioning Merops Interceptor from third-party publications. Automatically surfaced; not part of the verified registry record.
Picogrid Providing Integration for Perennial Autonomy's Merops
Picogrid's Legion software is serving as the tactical integrator for Perennial Autonomy's Merops interceptors for US air defense in the Middle East, deployed alongside Merops…
Pentagon Backs AI Counter-Drone Startup with $500 Million Deal
DRONELIFE covers the $500M Pentagon contract and details the Merops, Bumblebee, and Hornet systems' specifications and combat history in Ukraine.
Perennial Autonomy Wins $500M Pentagon Counter-Drone Deal
Quwa covers the $500M Pentagon contract, noting Merops interceptors proven in Ukraine are now used by U.S. forces in CENTCOM against Iranian Shahed drones.
Pentagon inks $500 million deal with Perennial Autonomy for counter-drone tech
Defense News covers the $500M JIATF-401 contract for Merops interceptors, Bumblebee quadcopters, and Hornet strike drones, all deployed in CENTCOM.
Pentagon awards $500 million contract to Perennial Autonomy for counter-drone systems
JIATF-401 awarded Perennial Autonomy a three-year $500M IDIQ contract for AI-enabled counter-UAS systems including Merops, Bumblebee, and Hornet drones.
Pentagon Awards $500M to Perennial Autonomy for Counter-Drone Interceptors Proven in Ukraine
Perennial Autonomy's Merops interceptor has downed more than 4,000 Russian drones in Ukraine and costs approximately $15,000 per unit versus $30,000-50,000 for a Shahed, making it…
Lithuania joins U.S. and Poland in buying Merops interceptor drones
Lithuania purchased 48 Merops interceptors from Perennial Autonomy, joining the U.S. and Poland as NATO customers for the counter-drone system.
Machine-readable surfaces
- Markdown mirror: /models/merops.md
- JSON-LD: embedded in this page’s head
- REST API: /v1/models/2df43ab2-a8e8-4fbc-a1b7-22b1581503fe
- Revision history: /models/merops/history
- Data documentation: /data
- Query this programmatically: Deploy MCP
Video
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Reality vs attention
Merops Interceptor draws attention at the 58th percentile but verifies reality at the 76th percentile among aerial robots. Hype Gap -17.6, 76th widest among aerial robots.
6-month trend
Analysis
Thin deployment record; scale validation still in progress.
Signal flags
Dimension breakdown
Verified signal
Attention (reach, not merit)
DEPLOY Intelligence scores are computed from verified registry data: confirmed deployments, disclosed funding rounds, regulatory filings, active job listings, video viewership, and press coverage. Confidence ratings reflect data availability. Scores update nightly.
DEPLOY Indices — verified vs claimed
Last computed: Aug 20, 2026