The US military has achieved its first combat interception using the Merops drone system, downing an Iranian Shahed-type drone in Kuwait after the technology underwent extensive battlefield testing in Ukraine, Business Insider reported, citing an informed source. According to the Businenss Insider, the interception this week marks the first operational use of the technology by American forces to destroy a target.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The system, developed by the US initiative Project Eagle, provides a cost-effective alternative to expensive anti-aircraft missiles when countering relatively cheap strike drones. Prior to its operational use by US forces in the Middle East, the Merops system was heavily tested in Ukraine. Business Insider noted that Ukrainian military personnel utilized the system to successfully destroy over 1,000 Shahed-type drones launched by Russian forces. The Merops complex consists of a radar, a launcher, a ground control station, and an interceptor drone that currently costs approximately $15,000 per unit. Capable of reaching speeds exceeding 280 kilometers per hour, the interceptor utilizes artificial intelligence to maintain functionality in environments with active electronic warfare. The drone neutralizes its target either through a direct collision or a proximity detonation. According to the report, the system requires a minimal crew and operators can be trained within a few days to fly the drone using standard Xbox controllers.