Read about RF‑cyber as the foundational C‑UAS layer, integrated multi‑sensor command‑and‑control, and multi‑layer, AI‑enhanced defenses advancing border security, national air defense, and critical infrastructure protection — all in our December newsletter.
Selected news, content, incidents, and information about C-UAS and the counter-drone world, from a D-Fend perspective, based on our vision of enabling a flourishing and secure drone-powered society by safely defending against rogue drone threats.
General Glen VanHerck (USAF–Ret.) explains that no single solution can counter today’s rapidly expanding drone threat. As unmanned systems grow more capable and harder to detect, he calls for a layered and adaptable counter-UAS architecture. He highlights RF-Cyber as the essential foundational layer due to its effectiveness, safety, control, and continuity, addressing most commercial drones with minimal collateral impact. Additional layers can then be added as needed to provide scalable, cost-effective protection as threats evolve.
The US is prioritizing CUAS solutions with affordability, flexibility, precision, rapid deployment, resilience, and an open architecture as UAV threats and doctrine rapidly evolve. D-Fend's Jeffrey Starr highlights a shift from over-reliance on traditional, legacy solutions towards adding a layer with cyber-driven, non-kinetic and non-jamming capabilities. RF-cyber technology now represents the cutting edge of airspace defense, enabling direct control and safe landings for rogue drones while delivering unrivaled precision and minimal collateral risk within multi-layered defense stacks.
In this Counter-UAS feature article, Jeffrey Starr, D-Fend Solutions' CMO, shares insights into the AI-driven EnforceAir PLUS C-UAS system, detailing its integrated RF-cyber and radar detection, multilayer mitigation capabilities, scalability, and adaptability across complex operational environments to address evolving drone threats.
Wide-area C-UAS protection demands more than simply multiplying sensor nodes across the landscape. Multi-sensor fusion and advanced C2 software serve as the strategic nerve center, networking a constellation of disparate detection sensors and mitigation tools into a real-time “single pane of glass” for situational awareness. D-Fend Solutions’ MSC2 helps knit fragmented perimeters into a true, resilient shield for large, complex environments.
In a feature on last year’s New Jersey drone incidents, D-Fend Solutions said the sightings likely reflected a mix of normal aircraft, authorized commercial and government drone activity, and possibly foreign platforms exploiting the confusion for surveillance. The events were highly unlikely to have been counter-drone tests, which would have occurred under far more controlled conditions.
Merging independently developed technologies into a single C-UAS solution demands careful synchronization, calibration, and data fusion designed from the outset, and that simply adding more sensors does not automatically create better security. The key is coherent integration… built, calibrated, and validated as one ecosystem. A new generation of solutions follows this approach, among them D-Fend Solutions’ EnforceAir PLUS.
As drone technology continues to evolve, the need for effective counter-drone measures becomes increasingly critical, especially in the realm of border security.
“Advances in Counter-Drone Technology for Border Security” includes D-Fend Solutions’ EnforceAir PLUS as one of the recent significant advancements that have been made in detection systems, mitigation techniques, and the integration of these technologies into existing security frameworks.
D-Fend Solutions won the GlobalData PLC Innovation Award in the Adaptive Counter-UAS category in the 2025 Airforce Technology Excellence Awards for its EnforceAir2 system, which delivers robust protection and operational continuity for military, government and critical infrastructure users.
This award validates D-Fend’s non-kinetic RF-cyber approach to safely taking control of hostile drones and integrating seamlessly into layered defense at high‐visibility operations.
Pablo Gomez is a Customer Program Manager at D-Fend Solutions, bringing more than 12 years of experience leading complex, large-scale programs for global customers. Pablo is known for his ability to communicate clearly, build trust quickly, and help people align around shared goals.
Pablo holds an MBA from Universidad de Caldas in Colombia, and, during his international career, he has managed multimillion-dollar programs across EMEA and North America.
Before joining D-Fend, he held senior leadership roles at Gilat Satellite Networks and Ceragon Networks, where he led strategic engagements with customers such as T-Mobile, Boeing, U.S. Cellular, Facebook, Oracle, and SAP.
Pablo thrives in customer-facing environments, where his natural ability to help people, whether customers, partners, or internal teams, enables him to navigate complexity, manage risk, and keep stakeholders aligned. At D-Fend, Pablo focuses on strengthening customer relationships, driving continuous improvement, ensuring that programs deliver measurable value.
Outside of work, Pablo channels the same energy and discipline he brings to his role into his personal life. An avid runner and scuba-diving enthusiast, he also enjoys dancing and believes music is essential to starting and ending every day on the right note.
According to Pablo, “These passions reflect my adventurous spirit, rhythm, and drive, qualities that, I hope, bring value, both professionally and personally, to D-Fend and its customers.”
capability spotlight
Control the Threat, Maintain the Picture
EnforceAir provides uninterrupted Detect-Track-Identify (DTI) performance even while executing live RF-Cyber takeovers. During mitigation, EnforceAir transmits precise, surgical, non-jamming commands to take control of the rogue drone, while all surrounding communications remain unaffected. Throughout the RF-Cyber takeover, safe-route guidance, and controlled landing, operators maintain full situational awareness and real-time updates for every object in range, supporting the safety, continuity, and control required in sensitive environments.
