Motorola Solutions (MSI.N), opens new tab said it would buy Israeli startup D-Fend Solutions for $1.5 billion as governments and critical infrastructure operators worldwide rush to ​defend against the growing threat of rogue drones.

Attacks on key ‌infrastructure such as data centers in the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and airport shutdowns across Europe have recently shown the need for systems that can intercept drones without jamming ​communications or causing damage, News.az reports, citing Reuters.

The Safer Skies Act, a U.S. law, opens new tab passed ​last year that allows certified state and local police officers to ⁠actively hijack and safely land unauthorized drones, has also created a new market ​for drone-takeover tools such as D-Fend.

Founded in 2016, the privately held company ​makes technology that uses radio waves to take control of rogue drones mid-flight, rather than disrupting signals or shooting them down.

Its flagship product, EnforceAir, is deployed in ​over 30 countries including NATO members to protect military zones, airports ​and critical infrastructure. Its tech is also used by the U.S. departments of Homeland ‌Security, ⁠Defense and Justice.

"Rogue drones have transformed our skies into a landscape of unpredictable risk, where simple detection is no longer enough," Motorola Solutions CEO and Chairman Greg Brown said in a statement on Monday.

The deal builds on ​Motorola's $4.4 billion deal ​last year ⁠for Silvus, which provides secure communications and networking for drones, giving it both drone and anti-drone capabilities.

The company said ​the D-Fend deal is expected to close in the ​fourth quarter ⁠of 2026. D-Fend has posted annual revenue growth of more than 50% over the last three years, with full-year 2026 revenue expected to be $185 million, Motorola said.

The ⁠anti-drone market was ​valued at $2.47 billion in 2026, and is ​projected to reach $8.42 billion by 2031, according to research firm Mordor Intelligence.

News.Az 

By Faig Mahmudov