Israel Shipyards Unveils New Drone Interception System to Counter Swarm Threats

Israel Shipyards has introduced a new drone interception system developed by its subsidiary AREONOUS, established a year ago and now employing 40 people, including veterans from other defense industries. The system features a command and control platform paired with an interceptor drone capable of operating at ranges from 200 meters to 50 kilometers, protecting everything from maneuvering troops at temporary sites to airports and military bases.

The interceptor drone is designed to counter swarm drones, which cannot be disrupted by electronic jamming. Last week, the system was demonstrated to the Israel Defense Forces, integrating radar from the US company Echodyne and a camera from Controp, enabling rapid identification of small, agile targets. The soldier-carried system weighs 13 kilograms, includes lidar sensors from Israeli company Innoviz, and deploys nets from the ground to entangle and bring down hostile drones. The system operates automatically and costs tens of thousands of dollars.

AREONOUS CEO Meir Ben Shai emphasized that there is no single "silver bullet" technology for drone interception, highlighting the need for integrated solutions. The system is designed to be open for sensor and effectors integration, including laser and other interception technologies, which can be added within two weeks. The company already has paying customers and is working on adapting its solutions for protecting warships built by Israel Shipyards.