Israeli startup raises $36 million to develop drone swarm defense system

The company says its platform is designed from the ground up to counter coordinated attacks involving dozens or even hundreds of drones at once.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Israeli defense technology startup Skapion has raised $36 million in a seed funding round to develop what it describes as a next-generation air defense system built specifically to stop massive swarms of attack drones, an emerging threat that has exposed the limits of conventional missile defenses.

Skapion said the investment will fund engineering hires, system development, testing and integration, as well as work with defense and government agencies in Israel, the United States and other countries.

The company says its platform is designed from the ground up to counter coordinated attacks involving dozens or even hundreds of drones at once.

Unlike many existing air defense systems, which were originally developed to intercept a single drone or a small number of aerial threats, Skapion says its technology is intended to engage large swarms while significantly reducing the cost of each interception.

The company argues that inexpensive attack drones have created a growing challenge for militaries because they can force defenders to use interceptor missiles that cost far more than the aircraft they are destroying.

The startup was founded by executives and engineers with extensive experience in Israel’s air defense industry.

Chief architect Brig. Gen. (res.) Pini Yungman previously led Rafael’s Air and Missile Defense Systems Division and helped develop Iron Dome and David’s Sling. Chief Executive Officer Ido Bar-On joined from XTEND, where he oversaw work with defense and government customers in international markets.

The founding team also includes Chief Technology Officer Gal Goren, Tzafrir Yoeli, a co-founder of Enlight Renewable Energy, and Yaron Karp.

Skapion has disclosed few technical details about its system, saying only that it is designed to detect and defeat large numbers of hostile drones operating simultaneously.

It has not revealed whether the platform relies on lasers, electronic warfare, interceptor drones or a combination of technologies.

The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its research and development center in Ramat Gan. It currently employs more than 20 people in Israel and is continuing to recruit engineers in electronics, software, robotics, autonomy and aerospace.