Drone Destruction, a Booming Business

Militaries and law enforcement in desperate need of anti-drone weapons are kicking off the newest gold rush for the global defense industry—drone annihilation.

Recent drone developments have given governments a lot to worry about.

• Small consumer drones have grounded commercial flights at busy airports near New York, London, and Dubai.
• U.S., Russian, and other militaries have faced similar types of drones on Middle East battlefields.

In the past few months, the constellation of companies working in the space has proposed anti-drone radar jammers, missiles, lasers, nets, and guns—basically anything—to help governments clamp down on dronemania.

• The problem: Existing options either aren’t cheap or effective.
• The solution: Open checkbook, say “make us something that works,” and see who responds. That could reach a weird mix of traditional defense companies, software startups, and engineering outfits.

Zoom out: The widespread use of one innovation (drones) has spawned a fast-growing market for its counter-innovation (blowing them up). Frost & Sullivan says the anti-drone market will pass $1.5 billion in 2021.