Motorola Solutions announced Monday that it will acquire D-Fend Solutions, an Israel-based industry leader in counter-drone systems, for USD 1.5 billion.
The agreement is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Motorola's entry into a definitive agreement to acquire D-Fend, which operates in more than 30 countries with an expected 2026 revenue of USD 185m., capitalizes on the Safer Skies Act, enacted as part of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.
The act authorizes local law enforcement to detect and track unauthorized drones and to disable and destroy "credible threats" in US airspace, which was formerly exclusively under federal control.
Additionally, the evolving landscape of modern conflicts is increasingly being defined by drone warfare, and counter-solutions have been far and few between in theatres like Ukraine and Lebanon.
D-Fend is a pioneer in the emerging frontier of airspace security, developing non-kinetic technologies to counter drones and other airborne threats.
Rogue drones have transformed our skies
Chairman and CEO of Motorola, Greg Brown, said that he sees drone mitigation technologies as a major near-term challenge that requires investment.
“Rogue drones have transformed our skies into a landscape of unpredictable risk, where simple detection is no longer enough,” he said.
“With D-Fend, drone threats are not just identified - their communications are overridden and redirected, safely bringing them to the ground, keeping people and communities safe.”
D-Fend CEO and co-founder, Zohar Halachmi, spoke of the mutual benefits of the acquisition, saying, “Joining Motorola Solutions allows us to accelerate our mission of securing the skies.
"By leveraging Motorola Solutions’ deep expertise and long-term customer relationships across public safety, federal, and enterprise, we can deliver even greater impact to the communities and organizations we serve.”
D-Fend, founded in 2017, uses a cyber-centric system called EnforceAir, a platform that detects and hijacks drones by exploiting their radio frequencies rather than destroying them outright.
This is especially useful in environments where traditional counter-drone measures are considered unsafe or otherwise unacceptable, such as airports, critical infrastructure sites, or crowded urban centers.
With the deal heading toward a closing, Motorola is seemingly positioning itself at the forefront of a newly deregulated and lucrative domestic airspace market.
Anna Ahronheim contributed to this report.