Israel Shipyards Ltd, a prominent defense contractor specializing in naval vessels for the Israeli Navy, has officially entered the drone countermeasure market through its new subsidiary, AREONOUS.
Founded just one year ago, AREONOUS operates in the rapidly evolving field of drone interception. The company currently employs approximately 40 specialists, many of whom are seasoned veterans from the defense industry.
The startup has developed a comprehensive command-and-control system paired with a dedicated interceptor drone. This system is designed for versatility, capable of operating at long ranges—up to 50 km for the protection of airports and military bases—or at close ranges as a soldier-portable unit for protecting ground forces within a 200-meter radius.
By utilizing an interceptor drone, the system provides a physical solution to combat FPV (First-Person View) drones that are often resistant to electronic jamming. During a recent demonstration for the IDF, the system was integrated with radar technology from the US-based Echodyne and advanced camera systems from Controp to facilitate the rapid detection of small, highly maneuverable targets.
The soldier-portable version of the system weighs 13 kg and features LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors from the Israeli firm Innoviz. The system operates autonomously, launching nets from the ground to entangle incoming drones and bring them down.
The estimated cost for the system is in the range of tens of thousands of dollars.
Meir Ben Shayah, CEO of AREONOUS, noted in an interview with Walla that there is no “silver bullet” in drone interception. He emphasized that because no single technology provides an absolute solution, system integration is vital. “Our system is designed to be open, allowing for the integration of various sensors and effectors based on specific customer requirements and threat profiles. We can integrate laser-based or other interception solutions within just two weeks,” Ben Shayah stated.
The company has already secured paying customers and is beginning to deploy its solutions to protect the warships produced by Israel Shipyards.
This development follows recent remarks by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who asserted during a speech at the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel Conference that Israel aims to lead the world in developing solutions to the global threat posed by explosive drones.