Motorola Solutions’ acquisition of D-Fend Solutions, headquartered in Ra’anana, Israel, is part of a broader strategy to build a comprehensive portfolio of communications and counter-drone technologies for military, public safety and enterprise applications. Last August, Motorola acquired U.S.-based Silvus Technologies for approximately $4.4 billion. Silvus develops broadband wireless networking technology and is a leading supplier of tactical communication networks used to operate unmanned aerial systems.

Once the D-Fend acquisition is completed, Motorola will Motorola will combine two highly complementary technologies for the drone market. Silvus provides resilient, secure wireless networking for the operation of military drones, while D-Fend offers technology for the safe detection, identification and controlled takeover of unauthorized drones. In Motorola’s investor presentation, the company identifies the primary market for Silvus as military applications, while positioning D-Fend mainly in the enterprise and public safety sectors. However, given the rapid evolution of drone warfare, that distinction may ultimately become less clear.

Taking Control Through Cyber Technology

Founded in 2017 by CEO Zohar Halachmi, CTO Asaf Munster, and Chief Product Officer Yaniv Benbenishti, D-Fend operates in the Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) market. The company developed a counter-drone solution that relies on cyber technology instead of the traditional RF jamming or GPS spoofing.

Its approach is based on passive monitoring of RF signals and signal analysis techniques derived from the cybersecurity domain. Once the system detects the RF link, it decodes the drone’s communication protocol and telemetry data. From this information, it extracts critical details such as the drone’s identity, classification, precise location, and even the location of its operator.

D-Fend’s EnforceAir system can also operate actively by taking control of an unauthorized drone and neutralizing it through cyber (protocol-level) control, without the need for kinetic measures or physical interception.

In 2024, the company’s technology received a significant validation when the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officially approved that its counter-drone system is safe for use at civilian airports. The technology has since been deployed operationally and is now used by government agencies, public safety organizations, and commercial customers.

According to the company, its systems have been deployed in several thousand installations across more than 30 countries. Over the past three years, D-Fend has achieved annual revenue growth of approximately 50%, and is expected to generate approximately $185 million in revenue in 2026. The acquisition is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2026.