Israel Awards 2.1M Shekels For Anti-UAV System Development

The Israel Innovation Authority has awarded a grant of 2.1 million shekels (approx. $540,000) to a Petah Tikva-based aerospace company to develop its anti-drone system.

Airobotics, a subsidiary of American technological firms Ondas Holdings, is producing the Iron Drone Raider system, which counters uncrewed aircraft in the skies. 

Ondas says the Iron Drone Raider platform uses AI to spot and intercept enemy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and can integrate into a range of existing drone detection systems. 

The grant will be used to improve Iron Drone Raider’s interception capabilities in non-combat environments, with a focus on reducing collateral damage as drones’ GPS systems are jammed and they are brought down. 

Responding to the announcement of the grant, Airobotics CEO Meir Kleiner highlighted the increasing use of UAVs in criminal and terrorist attacks on critical infrastructure such as airports and energy installations, and said that the funding would be used to “accelerate the development of additional, high value features” of the system. 

“The Israel Innovation Authority has identified our innovation and product capabilities in an important and rapidly growing market for counter-drone solutions,” said Ondas CEO and Chairman Eric Brock. 

“The aerospace industry of Israel is known for its cutting-edge technology in unmanned aerial systems and interception technologies, and we are pleased to be recognized by this important Israeli governmental agency.”