Counter-Drone Startup D-Fend Raises $28 Million

Israel-based counter-drone startup D-Fend Solutions A.D. Ltd. has raised a $28 million funding round, the company announced Tuesday. The round was led by private equity firm Claridge Israel, the local branch of international firm Claridge Investment Ltd., with participation by current shareholder Vertex Ventures Israel.

Founded in 2017, D-Fend develops an autonomous counter-drone system that automatically and passively detects, locates and identifies rogue drones. Upon identifying unknown drones, D-Fend’s system can take control over them and land them safely at a pre-defined zone. The company has raised $34.6 million to date and lists the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), the unit that accelerates the adoption of commercial technology into the U.S. military, as a customer.