The global anti-drone manufacturing industry is witnessing a significant shift as a wave of new start-ups challenges the long-standing dominance of legacy giants, like Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems and Thales Group, which are renowned for their extensive defense and aerospace portfolios. For decades, these industry behemoths have held a virtual dominance, shaping the landscape of anti-drone technology. However, the emergence of innovative technology start-ups is disrupting this status quo, promising to bring fresh perspectives and cutting-edge solutions to counter the evolving threat of rogue drones.
Recent data underscores this shift, as investments in anti-drone start-ups have surged by 45% in the past year alone. Venture capital firms and angel investors are flocking to support these nimble newcomers, recognizing their potential to revolutionize the industry. This influx of funding has enabled start-ups to accelerate their research and development efforts, resulting in a rapid stream of innovative anti-drone technologies.
One of the key driving factors behind the rise of these new-age companies is their ability to adapt quickly to emerging threats and evolving drone capabilities. Unlike larger corporations burdened by bureaucracy and complex decision-making processes, start-ups can pivot swiftly and implement changes to their solutions in response to real-time challenges.
Moreover, the anti-drone landscape is evolving beyond traditional defense applications, with new companies exploring innovative use cases in fields like public safety, event security, and critical infrastructure protection. They are introducing technologies that integrate artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced sensor systems to create a more holistic counter-drone strategies.
In the midst of this transformation, industry analysts predict a gradual shift in market share from legacy companies to the up-and-coming innovators. While Lockheed Martin and Thales Group will remain formidable players, the diversification and democratization of anti-drone technology are gradually leveling the playing field.
The global anti-drone market size was valued at $1.3 billion in 2021, and is projected to reach $14.6 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 27.9% from 2022 to 2031.
Key players making an impact
1. SensoFusion
With U.S. headquarters in New York City and European headquarters in Finland, SensoFusion is the creator of AIRFENCE, a countermeasure technology designed to automatically detect, locate, track and take over unmanned aircraft system (UAS) controls.
AIRFENCE uses RF detection to discover intruding drones and takes control of them. According to the company, AIRFENCE is effective in a radius of 10 km, and is completely autonomous, with a manual option. It can also be used to locate the operator of an intruding drone.
SensoFusion works with agencies, such as the Finnish Defence Forces, NATO the U.S. FAA, U.S. Marine Corps, the Nevada Institute of Autonomous Systems and NASA UTM.
Website: https://sensofusion.com/
Industry: Public Safety
Company size: 11-50 employees
Headquarters: Vantaa, Finnish Capital Region
Type: Privately Held
Founded: 2014
Specialties: Dones, defense, government contractor, security, UAS security, airport security, software development, hardware development, and countermeasure technology
2. Dedrone
Founded in 2014 and headquartered in San Fransico, the company provides AI-based smart airspace security solutions. It provides users with RF sensors to detect, identify, and locate various drones in real-time, based on parameters such as noise, shape, and movement patterns. It also has a machine learning-based drone library to automate the protection of airspaces against unauthorized drones. The sensor can also be coupled with cameras to save images and videos for providing crucial evidence of the threat intrusion.
Dedrone serves in the B2B space in the high tech, aerospace, maritime and defense tech market segments. It has raised a total funding of $130M over 8 rounds. The company recently announced the launch of the newest version of DedroneTracker.AI, Version 6.0, representing a major leap forward in AI/ML enabled autonomous threat detection and classification capabilities demanded by our most strategic customers
Website: https://www.dedrone.com/
Industry: Public Safety
Company size: Approx. 50 employees
Headquarters: San Fransisco, United States
Type: Privately Held
Founded: 2014
3. ACSG Corp
The Government of India’s push towards ‘Make in India’ has powered several companies to the forefront of anti-drone manufacturing. Founded in 2007, ACSG Corp has adopted a patient approach, investing much of its resources towards research & development for futuristic tech products.
The company has also developed an intelligent and customisable counter-drone system that detects, tracks, and neutralizes rogue drones from a distance of several kilometres by leveraging high-end Electro-Optical Cameras (EO), RF Detectors, and advanced Video Analytic Software. They not only distinguish drones from birds, clouds and other flying objects, but also classify their make and models. For border security, ACSG’s 360-degree advanced radar system tracks intruding drones from a range of 3 kms, neutralising the threat even before it makes an impact.
Its high-powered jammers and advanced radar system safeguards critical government and residential buildings from rogue drones. The company only serves the Government sector, like the ministry of communications, ministry of road transport & highways, power ministry, Indian Oil, BSNL, BHEL and the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad, among others.
Website: https://www.acsgcorp.com/
Industry: Public safety
Sectors: Oil & gas, power & energy, mass transportation and telecommunication
Company size: 50-60 employees
Headquarters: New Delhi, India
Type: Privately held
Founded: 2007
Specialties: Drones, anti-drones, Critical Threat Analytics (CTA), automation and data analytics
4. SKYLOCK Systems Ltd.
The company focuses on the design and manufacturing of anti-drone systems for the detection, verification and neutralisation of unauthorised drones. It has developed modular, multi-layered counter drone systems and counter-measures delivering comprehensive solutions for airports, critical infrastructures, military bases and national events against evolving drone threats.
For military applications, the system can be fitted with a laser burner enabling the operator to destroy a rogue drone. The solution allows operators to prevent threats to critical infrastructures, like powerplants, prisons, or areas of importance that require wide security coverage such as borders, airports, and stadiums. The Moroccan military is one of its clients, which recently purchased the Israeli company’s counter-drone system, Skylock Dome.
Website: https://www.skylock1.com/
Sectors: B2B space in the high tech, aerospace, maritime and defense tech.
Founded: 2018
Location: Petah Tikva, Israel
Company size: 10+
Type: Privately held
5. Skycope Technologies
Skycope Technologies is an anti-drone solution provider and uses RF spectrum sensing and manipulation techniques to decode underlying protocol of the drones. It provides a system for differentiating between known-authorized drones and unauthorized drones. Based on this process, the company detects narrow band, point-to-point and frequency hopping drones and forces the unauthorized drones to hover outside the service area or just return to the owner safely.
Applications are in the areas of airports, prisons, energy facilities, military bases, V.I.P areas, concerts, and other public gatherings.
Website: https://www.skycope.com/
Sectors: Aerospace, maritime and defense technology
Location: Burnaby, Canada
Company size: 15+
Founded: 2016
Type: Privately held
