Army Technology and Naval Technology Excellence Awards 2024: D-Fend Solutions

D-Fend Solutions, a cyber-takeover, counter-drone solutions provider for sensitive and challenging environments, has won the Innovation award in Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) in the 2024 Army Technology and Naval Technology Excellence Awards for providing a cyber-based counter-drone system, EnforceAir2, which addresses the unique challenges of army and maritime operations.

The Army Technology Excellence Awards and  Naval Technology Excellence Awards celebrate the greatest achievements and innovations in the defense industry, with a special focus on the Army and Navy. Powered by GlobalData’s business intelligence, the Awards recognize the people and companies that are driving change in the industry.

D-Fend Solutions secured the award for its EnforceAir2 system’s exceptional UAS defense capabilities tailored for army and maritime operations.

Zohar Halachmi: The development of EnforceAir2 was driven by our commitment to address the rapidly evolving drone threat landscape and detect and mitigate the threats of today and tomorrow. We aimed to create a more powerful, portable, and versatile counter-UAS solution that could adapt to diverse operational scenarios. EnforceAir2 meets the defense sector's needs through its advanced RF cyber capabilities, enhanced detection and mitigation range, and seamless operational flexibility.

The system's custom-made SDR hardware, specifically tailored for cyber counter-drone applications, allows for wider coverage and improved performance in challenging environments. EnforceAir2's multi-mission deployment bundles enable rapid transitions between tactical, vehicular, stationary, and backpack configurations, providing the adaptability required by modern defense operations.

By combining advanced RF-cyber technology with operational agility, EnforceAir2 empowers defense personnel to effectively counter both current and emerging drone threats across various mission profiles.

Zohar Halachmi: ​​​​​​​EnforceAir2's approach significantly enhances mission safety and maintains critical operations and communications channels through its unique RF-cyber takeover methodology. Unlike traditional counter-drone systems that rely on jamming or kinetic solutions, our technology allows for precise and selective mitigation of rogue drones without disrupting authorized communications or nearby systems, or risking collateral damage. 

This non-interfering approach is crucial in sensitive military operations where maintaining uninterrupted communications is vital. EnforceAir2 can identify and take control of unauthorized drones, safely landing them in predetermined zones, thus eliminating potential threats without creating interference or physical debris. 

Moreover, the system's advanced capabilities enable it to distinguish between authorized and unauthorized drones, ensuring that friendly UAV operations remain unaffected. This selective and surgical mitigation preserves operational integrity while effectively neutralizing potential threats.

Zohar Halachmi: ​​​​​​​EnforceAir2's deployment kits address the diverse operational challenges faced by security teams across different environments. The multi-use deployment bundles enable rapid transitions between tactical, vehicular, stationary, and man-portable configurations, overcoming the limitations of fixed systems.

For covert operations, the backpack kit provides on-the-move protection in challenging terrains, with concealed antennas and a rugged, lightweight design. The vehicular kit allows for mobile protection, while the stationary option offers flexibility for short and medium-term and permanent deployments.

These kits overcome SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power) constraints, delivering powerful capabilities in compact, easily transportable forms. The quick set-up mechanisms ensure minimal downtime between configurations, allowing teams to adapt swiftly to evolving threats and operational requirements. This versatility enables effective counter-drone capabilities across various military scenarios, from urban environments to forward base protection.

Zohar Halachmi: ​​​​​​​The EnforceAir2 backpack kit provides a significant strategic advantage in field operations by offering unparalleled mobility and covert capabilities. Its compact, lightweight design allows military and security personnel to carry a full-fledged counter-drone system on their backs, enabling protection in challenging terrains and scenarios where traditional setups are impractical. 

The kit's covert nature, with concealed antennas and a fan-less design, makes it ideal for stealth operations. It maintains full functionality for on-the-move protection, providing omnidirectional hours of coverage per battery, with hot-swap options for extended missions. 

This portability and stealth, combined with the system's advanced RF-cyber detection and mitigation capabilities, empower teams to respond swiftly to drone threats in dynamic environments, especially military operations in hard-to-reach areas.

Zohar Halachmi: ​​​​​​​EnforceAir2 delivers optimal performance across diverse environments through its RF-cyber technology foundation, combined with purpose-built C-UAS Cyber-SDR hardware and flexible deployment configurations. This custom-designed technology overcomes limitations of traditional C-UAS platforms, providing wide coverage capabilities. The system's advanced RF capabilities enable powerful real-time and superior performance even in the most challenging settings.

Our wide omnidirectional coverage, coupled with high-performance hardware and components, ensures comprehensive threat detection and mitigation. EnforceAir2's mitigation engine adapts to each scenario, allowing rapid and optimal countermeasures. Additionally, multiple setting options maintain effectiveness in environments with various requirements, a critical feature for sensitive military operations. This combination of advanced hardware, intelligent software, and adaptive capabilities allows EnforceAir2 to excel in virtually any operational context.

Zohar Halachmi: ​​​​​​​Integrating AI into EnforceAir2 enhances operational decision-making and threat mitigation capabilities. The new AI-based mitigation engine could analyse each detected drone, considering factors like flight patterns, payload capacity, and proximity to sensitive areas. AI can fuse inputs from multiple sensors and technologies for a unified view of the target drone. It could then recommend the most appropriate mitigation options, enabling operators to make faster, more informed decisions in critical situations. 

Such an AI-driven approach would be particularly valuable when dealing with multiple simultaneous threats. The system's enhanced UI could provide a clearer threat level assessment about potential drone directions, further aiding operators in prioritizing responses. Additionally, AI integration improves the ability to distinguish between authorized and unauthorized drones, reducing false alarms and allowing for more precise and efficient threat neutralization in complex and crowded airspaces.

Zohar Halachmi: ​​​​​​​EnforceAir2's mostly passive operation provides a significant strategic edge in counter-drone operations. By continuously scanning and detecting unique communication signals used by commercial drones in a passive manner, the system protects covertness. This allows for an early threat detection phase without alerting of system presence or location, keeping forces safer. 

The passive nature also enables EnforceAir2 to operate effectively in sensitive environments without interfering with critical systems or compromising operational security. Our technology obtains crucial information and enhances situational awareness while remaining undetected. 

This passive capability, combined with raid, precise and surgical mitigation, when necessary, offers unparalleled flexibility and discretion in various scenarios, from urban settings to sensitive military operations, ensuring maximum effectiveness with minimal footprint.

Zohar Halachmi: ​​​​​​​EnforceAir2 is well-equipped to handle such environments through several advanced features. Our "disrupted GNSS mode" allows the system to maintain effectiveness even when signals are compromised, a crucial capability for military and sensitive operations. 

The system's custom-built C-UAS Cyber-SDR hardware provides ultrawide band coverage and superior performance in RF-noisy urban settings. This advanced hardware, allows for powerful processing and adaptability in challenging environments. 

Additionally, EnforceAir2' continuously analyzes the RF spectrum, distinguishing between authorized and unauthorized drone and other signals. This intelligent analysis enables the system to prioritize threats and allocate resources efficiently, ensuring optimal performance even in complex environments.

Zohar Halachmi: ​​​​​​​EnforceAir2's cyber-C-UAS capability is designed to seamlessly integrate with existing defense systems, enhancing overall security without disrupting established processes. Our system's non-jamming, non-kinetic approach allows it to operate within command-and-control systems, and alongside other complementary technologies such as radars, optical cameras, and jammers. 

The system's advanced RF cyber capabilities and custom-built SDR hardware enable it to function effectively with and complement legacy security measures. EnforceAir2's ability to detect, identify, and mitigate drone threats with precision adds a crucial layer to multi-tiered defense strategies. 

Furthermore, our solution's flexible deployment options, including tactical, vehicular, stationary, and backpack configurations, allow it to adapt to various operational scenarios and integrate with diverse existing security setups. This versatility ensures that EnforceAir2 can enhance existing defense systems across different sectors and environments, providing a comprehensive counter-drone solution that fills critical gaps in airspace security.

Zohar Halachmi: ​​​​​​​EnforceAir2 is set to redefine the landscape of defense against unmanned commercial UAV threats, marking a new era in counter-drone technology. As such aerial threats become increasingly common and sophisticated, our system's adaptability and precision will be pivotal in maintaining superiority within multilayer C-UAS systems across a spectrum of military operations. 

We envision EnforceAir2 as a force multiplier in integrated defense ecosystems, enhancing the effectiveness of existing military assets and strategies. Its non-kinetic approach and ability to operate with a small footprint will be crucial in complex battlefield environments, providing commanders with new tactical options while minimizing collateral risks.  

Looking ahead, we see EnforceAir2 as an indispensable component in future warfare doctrine, from special operations to large-scale conflicts. By continuously evolving our technology to address emerging threats, we aim to empower armed forces globally with the capability to neutralize drone-based adversaries effectively. This strategic vision positions EnforceAir2 at the forefront of military innovation, ensuring that defense strategies remain ahead of evolving unmanned aerial threats.

D-Fend Solutions is the leading global provider of cyber-takeover, counter-drone solutions for sensitive and challenging environments. By focusing on the acute threat, the most dangerous drones, the company’s technology enables organizations around the world to maintain full control, safety, and continuity during rogue drone incidents across complex and sensitive environments and be prepared for future threats. EnforceAir, their core offering, automatically executes radio frequency (RF) cyber-takeovers of rogue drones for safe landings and controlled outcomes.