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

Motorola Solutions has agreed to purchase the Israeli company D‑Fend for $1. 5 billion, adding a new layer of protection against unmanned aircraft that pose risks to critical sites. The deal follows a surge in incidents where drones have targeted data centres, airports and other vital infrastructure around the world. The new purchase builds on Motorola’s earlier $4. 4 billion acquisition of Silvus, a firm that supplies secure communication links for drones. Together, the two companies now own both drone‑control and anti‑drone systems, giving Motorola a more complete offering to its clients.D‑Fend’s main product, EnforceAir, uses radio waves to seize control of rogue aircraft mid‑flight. Unlike jamming or shooting down a drone, this approach avoids damage to the airspace and keeps civilian operations running. The technology is already in use in more than 30 countries, including NATO members, and has been adopted by U. S. agencies such as Homeland Security and the Department of Justice. The purchase comes at a time when U. S. lawmakers have passed rules that let police officers safely hijack unauthorized drones, creating a new market for tools like EnforceAir. D‑Fend has seen revenue grow by over 50% in the past three years, and it expects to bring in $185 million this year. Industry analysts estimate the anti‑drone market will grow from $2. 47 billion in 2026 to more than $8. 4 billion by 2031, reflecting the increasing need for robust drone‑defence solutions.