Romania is strengthening its air defences by testing and deploying AI-powered drone interceptor systems, as repeated Russian drone activity near Ukraine’s Danube ports raises security concerns along NATO’s eastern flank.
The new systems are designed to detect, track, and intercept hostile drones, including in conditions where satellite navigation or electronic communications are jammed. One such system, known as Merops, is already being deployed in Romania and Poland after being tested in Ukraine.
The move follows several Russian drone incidents near or inside Romanian territory. Romania has repeatedly recovered drone fragments after Russian strikes on Ukrainian port infrastructure close to its border, increasing pressure on Bucharest and NATO to enhance low-cost air defence capabilities against drones.
Officials view interceptor drones as a more cost-effective alternative to deploying fighter jets or expensive missiles against relatively low-cost drone systems. The technology is part of a broader NATO effort to strengthen defences along its eastern border, as the Ukraine war increasingly creates spillover security risks for neighbouring alliance members.
The development highlights how the Ukraine conflict is accelerating the use of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems in modern air defence, while also raising concerns about escalation risks, safety, and control of such technologies.
