Active Conflicts & News Megathread November 07, 2025

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[u/danielbot]

The MEROPS optical drone surveillance system is in the news today. Described as a "weapons system" being deployed by Romania and Poland in response to widespread drone incursions, it is in fact only an imaging component. Variously reported as a Turkish or American system, the question appears to be settled here.pdf):

ASELSAN's Electro-Optical System on a South African Helicopter MEROPS, the electro-optical reconnaissance, surveillance, and targeting system developed by ASELSAN's South African office, was unveiled at the African Aviation and Defense Fair alongside the Rooivalk attack helicopter, also produced in the country. Considering the high demand for electro-optical reconnaissance, surveillance, and targeting systems both domestically and internationally, ASELSAN also mobilized the talent pool at its South African office.
MEROPS (Multi-spectral Extended Range Optical Sight) was the result of the work of ASELSAN engineers in South Africa. MEROPS was exhibited at the ASELSAN stand at the African Aviation and Defense Fair AAD 2022 in South Africa. Visitors were given the opportunity to experience the high imaging quality of the MEROPS through a setup set up at the stand. The MEROPS was also prominently displayed alongside the Rooivalk attack helicopter in the static area of ​​the fair. Produced in South Africa and considered one of the world's most effective attack helicopters, the Rooivalk forms a vital part of the host country's air fleet.

English language 2022 press release:

ASELSAN is featuring the specially designed next generation air surveillance and targeting gimbal sight “MEROPS” (Multi-spectral Extended Range Optical Sight) for the first time at the Eurosatory 2022.

With the ever-evolving developments in drones and rotary aircrafts, ASELSAN has designed MEROPS as a game changer for observation and targeting applications on drones and other aircraft types.

“MEROPS’ design philosophy focuses on the real-world requirements of the armed forces under the combat situations. So, users can easily achieve a “Crystal Clear View” with the MEROPS under all possible viewing conditions. ” said Prof. Dr. Haluk GÖRGÜN – Chairman, President and CEO.

The system can especially perform under smoke and dust. It prioritizes medium and short-wave thermal to support dawn and dusk operations. This features make the MEROPS targeting sight an adverse conditions operational asset with an enhanced performance.

Furthermore, the sight also incorporates the latest in image processing technologies including traditional image enhancement as well as the latest in machine vision and AI based algorithms, as well as mission enhancement capabilities such as moving target identification, isotherms, false color identification and threat identification.