Foreign buyers are acquiring Israeli counter-drone companies. See each deal: D-Fend ($1.5B), Sentrycs ($225M), Insignito and Iron Drone, with buyer and technology.
Foreign buyers are acquiring Israeli counter-drone companies at a fast pace. The largest deal is Motorola Solutions' $1.5 billion purchase of D-Fend, completed on August 20, 2026, followed by Ondas' $225 million purchase of Sentrycs. This page tracks each foreign acquisition of an Israeli counter-UAS company, with buyer, price and technology.
Which Israeli counter-drone companies have foreign owners?
The table lists Israeli counter-drone companies acquired by non-Israeli buyers, using figures from company announcements and Israeli business press.
| Israeli company | Buyer | Reported value | Status | Technology |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D-Fend Solutions | Motorola Solutions (US) | $1.5 billion | Completed Aug 20, 2026 | RF cyber-takeover (EnforceAir) |
| Sentrycs | Ondas (US) | $225 million | Announced Nov 2025 | Cyber-over-RF protocol takeover |
| Insignito | Ondas (US) | Part of $56 million for three firms, plus up to $32 million contingent | Announced Sept 23, 2026 | Passive acoustic detection (DUMBO) |
| Iron Drone | Ondas (US) | Terms not covered here | 2023 | Interceptor drones |
Airobotics, an Israeli autonomous-drone maker bought by Ondas in 2023, is a drone-platform deal rather than a counter-drone one, so it appears in the full Ondas portfolio map instead. See Israeli companies owned by Ondas.
What did Motorola Solutions buy with D-Fend?
D-Fend, founded in 2016 and based in Ra'anana, built EnforceAir, a system that identifies a rogue drone, takes control of it through its radio link and lands it safely. Motorola Solutions said the technology is used in more than 30 countries, at airports, critical infrastructure, stadiums, military bases and borders. Globes called the $1.5 billion price the biggest acquisition ever of an Israeli defense technology company.
- Growth: D-Fend reported annual revenue growth above 50 percent in each of the past three years and expected about $185 million in 2026 revenue.
- Leadership: Co-founder Zohar Halachmi continues as CEO and now leads Motorola Solutions' counter-drone platform as senior vice president.
- Investors: Ynet reported that IGP, which led the 2024 round, was expected to earn about six times its investment.
What did Ondas buy with Sentrycs?
Sentrycs gives operators a way to detect, identify and take over hostile drones at the protocol level, without jamming or spoofing, according to CTech. The $225 million deal was Ondas' entry into counter-UAS. The full analysis is in Olam's Sentrycs to Ondas deal breakdown.
What did Ondas add with Insignito and Iron Drone?
Insignito, founded in 2022 by entrepreneurs with Air Force backgrounds, detects drones by sound, without transmitting any signal. CTech reports its DUMBO system has been deployed in conflict zones and is built to complement radar, radio-frequency and electro-optical sensors. Iron Drone, bought in 2023, adds interceptor drones, so the Ondas stack now spans detection, takeover and interception.
Why are foreign buyers paying for Israeli counter-drone technology?
- Proven in operations: Israeli firms test their systems in real conditions, and buyers cite deployments in dozens of countries.
- Market growth: Coverage of the D-Fend deal cited a Mordor Intelligence estimate that the anti-drone market will grow from $2.47 billion in 2026 to $8.42 billion by 2031.
- Public safety demand: Airports, stadiums and critical infrastructure operators now need airspace protection, which suits buyers such as Motorola Solutions.
- Platform building: Ondas is assembling detection, takeover, communications and navigation layers into one defense stack.
How do these deals compare with Shield AI and Echodyne?
Shield AI agreed to acquire US radar maker Echodyne for $5.3 billion, according to Israel Defense's report on the deal. Echodyne is not Israeli, but it sets a valuation benchmark for counter-UAS sensing. The report notes a $250 million contract from the Pentagon's JIATF-401 counter-drone task force and an expected close in early 2027. Against that benchmark, D-Fend's $1.5 billion shows what Israeli counter-drone specialists can command.
Which Israeli drone companies took other routes?
Not every Israeli drone company has sold. XTEND went public through a merger and trades on the NYSE as XTND, covered in Olam's XTEND NYSE listing story. Uvision acquired SpearUAV, an Israeli-to-Israeli consolidation in loitering systems. For the companies to watch next, see Olam's UVID DroneTech Israeli drone firms guide.
Frequently asked questions
What was the biggest sale of an Israeli counter-drone firm?
Motorola Solutions' $1.5 billion purchase of D-Fend, completed on August 20, 2026, is the largest, and Globes called it the biggest Israeli defense technology acquisition ever.
Which US companies have bought Israeli counter-drone firms?
Motorola Solutions bought D-Fend, and Ondas bought Sentrycs, Insignito and Iron Drone.
Does D-Fend still operate from Israel?
Globes reported that the business would continue from D-Fend's Ra'anana headquarters, with its roughly 250 employees moving to Motorola Solutions.
How does Sentrycs technology work?
Sentrycs detects, identifies and takes control of hostile drones at the protocol level, without jamming, spoofing or electromagnetic interference, according to CTech.
Will more Israeli counter-drone firms be acquired?
Ondas has said it is pursuing further expansion, and CTech reported advanced talks with another Israeli defense manufacturer in September 2026. New deals will be added to this page.
How we report: Olam stories draw on public filings, company disclosures and named sources, checked by our editors. Read our methodology · Corrections
