The cost to neutralize a drone often far exceeds the cost of the drone itself.
Current Counter Drone Limitations:
The Reality:
Small commercial drones are increasingly weaponized for reconnaissance, harassment, and kinetic attacks.
Traditional air defense systems are over-engineered and cost-prohibitive for these threats, creating a critical capability gap in contested airspace and at the tactical level for troops on the ground.
The Solution:
Project Merlin-1 & WRAP PANDA
Low Cost Versatility for Tactical & Strategic C-UAS Defense | The first concept in this initiative “Wrap-Merlin 1” is a modular, drone-mounted payload designed to entangle and neutralize hostile drones mid-flight without the prohibitive costs of missiles or single-use interceptors.
Project MERLIN-1
Wrap PANDA— Releasing Soon
Project MERLIN— Scaling Defense for Swarm Threats
Multi-Cartridge Payload
Each Merlin-1 housing can carry up to six low-weight BolaWrap cartridges in a semi-compact, adaptable configuration (Underbelly facing down or forward), enabling six independent engagements per sortie.
Remote or Autonomous Operation
Cartridges trigger via onboard microcontroller through GPIO, UART, or serial command. Configured for manual operator control, Merlin-1 allows FPV pilots to locate, engage, and disable hostile drones mid-flight using a lightweight, multi-shot payload, designed to provide a decisive, low-cost multi-shot intercept option in environments where UAS threats are increasingly common.
Platform-Agnostic Architecture
A customizable 3D-printable mounting system allows rapid adaptation to diverse payload sizes, deployment sequences, and platform geometries; without extensive re-engineering. This modular approach enables mission-specific configurations to be validated and fielded in days, not months keeping up with the pace of innovation on the battlefield.
Cost-Effective Mass Deployment
Unlike traditional C-UAS solutions that rely on costly single-use interceptors or expendable drones, Wrap-Merlin 1 is expected to deliver:
Multiple engagements per sortie for extended mission coverage
Seamless compatibility with existing drone fleets without major retrofits
Rapid adaptability to evolving threats via modular payload swaps
This combination has the potential to enable sustained aerial defense operations at a fraction of the cost of conventional systems, making it ideal for defense agencies, border security, and critical infrastructure protection.
WRAP PANDA— Releasing Soon
Deployment Analysis—
Why Mechanical Entanglement Outperforms Alternatives
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