Motorola Solutions is acquiring Israeli startup D-Fend Solutions for $1.5 billion, responding to a surge in attacks by rogue drones on critical infrastructure, from data centers to airports.
The deal comes as governments worldwide scramble for counter-drone technology that can safely intercept threats without disrupting communications or causing collateral damage.
Founded in 2016, D-Fend develops EnforceAir, a system that uses radio waves to take control of unauthorized drones mid-flight rather than jamming signals or shooting them down. The technology is already deployed in over 30 countries, including NATO member states, and is used by the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security, Defense, and Justice.
A key driver of demand: last year's Safer Skies Act, which authorizes certified U.S. state and local police to actively hijack and safely land rogue drones.
Motorola CEO Greg Brown said rogue drones have turned the skies into a landscape of unpredictable risk where simple detection is no longer enough.
The acquisition builds on Motorola's $4.4 billion purchase of Silvus last year, which added secure drone communications and networking, giving the company both drone and anti-drone capabilities.
D-Fend has posted annual revenue growth of over 50 percent for the past three years, with full-year 2026 revenue projected at $185 million. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The anti-drone market was valued at $2.47 billion in 2026 and is forecast to reach $8.42 billion by 2031, according to Mordor Intelligence.