Motorola buys Israel's D-Fend for $1.5 billion, a bet on drone-hijacking tech
Motorola is paying $1.5 billion for a counter-drone firm whose RF takeover seizes a drone's control link, the same link Ukraine's fiber-optic drones are built to fly without.
Motorola is paying $1.5 billion for a counter-drone firm whose RF takeover seizes a drone's control link, the same link Ukraine's fiber-optic drones are built to fly without.
Motorola Solutions said on June 1 it will pay $1.5 billion for D-Fend Solutions, an Israeli counter-drone firm. The deal, which Motorola expects to close in the fourth quarter pending regulatory approval, hands the company a system that hijacks rogue drones in flight, according to its announcement and Defense Daily.
D-Fend's flagship system, EnforceAir, uses non-kinetic RF cyber-takeover. It detects a drone's communications protocol, overrides the link between the aircraft and its operator, and lands the drone in a predefined zone rather than jamming the signal or shooting it down, according to D-Fend and Motorola. The systems are fielded in more than 30 countries, and D-Fend expects roughly $185 million in 2026 revenue after three years of more than 50% annual growth, Calcalist reported.
Motorola plans to broaden D-Fend's reach beyond its security and government base. CEO Greg Brown said the company would extend the technology across public safety, federal, and enterprise customers, citing airports, critical infrastructure, and large venues including 2026 FIFA World Cup sites. D-Fend chief executive Zohar Halachmi said joining Motorola would let the firm "deliver even greater impact" through those customer relationships.
The method depends on there being a radio link to seize. Both Ukrainian and Russian forces have moved toward fiber-optic-tethered FPV drones and optically guided munitions that carry no radio link, a shift documented across the war to beat jamming and electronic-warfare interdiction. DroneXL noted that RF takeover is less effective against exactly those drones. Against one flying a spooled fiber line or steering by onboard camera, there is no control signal to commandeer. EnforceAir PLUS, which D-Fend launched in August 2025, adds radar detection and optional RF jamming to narrow that gap, according to the company.
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Subscribe Free →What to watch: whether the payoff comes from the front or from the airport-and-stadium market Motorola is buying into, where most rogue drones are still ordinary radio-controlled models the takeover method handles well.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is Motorola paying for D-Fend, and when does the deal close?
Motorola Solutions agreed to acquire D-Fend Solutions for $1.5 billion, with the deal expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026 subject to regulatory approval, per Motorola's announcement and Defense Daily.
What does D-Fend's EnforceAir actually do?
EnforceAir uses non-kinetic RF cyber-takeover: it detects a drone's communications protocol, overrides the link between the drone and its operator, and lands the aircraft in a predefined zone rather than jamming or shooting it down, according to D-Fend and Motorola.
Why does the technology struggle against drones in Ukraine?
RF takeover needs a radio control link to seize. Both Ukrainian and Russian forces have shifted toward fiber-optic-tethered FPV drones and optically guided munitions that carry no such link, and DroneXL noted that RF takeover is less effective against those drones.
Where does Motorola plan to use it?
CEO Greg Brown said Motorola would extend the technology across public safety, federal, and enterprise customers, citing airports, critical infrastructure, and large venues including 2026 FIFA World Cup sites.
How big is D-Fend's business?
D-Fend's systems are fielded in more than 30 countries, and the company expects roughly $185 million in 2026 revenue after three years of more than 50% annual growth, Calcalist reported.
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Marcus Schuler
Marcus Schuler edits BattlePolicy, a daily defense-technology brief connecting the companies and capabilities behind modern war to the contest among Europe, the US, Russia, and China.