Motorola Sees $1. 5B Investment in Drone‑Defence Tech

Motorola Solutions has agreed to acquire Israeli anti‑drone company D‑Fend for $1.5 billion, adding a critical layer of protection against unmanned aircraft that threaten vital infrastructure worldwide. The deal follows an uptick in drone attacks on data centres, airports and other key facilities.

Building a Comprehensive Defense Stack

• Previous Move: Motorola already spent $4.4 billion on Silvus, a provider of secure drone communication links.
• Combined Offering: With D‑Fend’s anti‑drone technology, Motorola now controls both drone‑control and anti‑drone systems—an end‑to‑end solution for clients.

D‑Fend’s EnforceAir

• How It Works: Uses radio waves to seize control of rogue aircraft mid‑flight, avoiding damage to airspace and allowing civilian operations to continue unhindered.
• Adoption: In use in over 30 countries, including NATO members; adopted by U.S. agencies such as Homeland Security and the Department of Justice.
• Market Context: U.S. lawmakers have recently enabled police officers to safely hijack unauthorized drones, opening a new market for EnforceAir.

Financial Highlights

• D‑Fend’s revenue grew over 50% in the past three years.
• Projected earnings for this year: $185 million.

Market Outlook

Industry analysts predict the anti‑drone market will rise from $2.47 billion in 2026 to more than $8.4 billion by 2031, underscoring the escalating demand for robust drone‑defence solutions.