Israeli startup Magos Systems, a developer of AI-native radar technology, has inked a NIS 21 million ($7 million) agreement to supply defense ground forces with its early-detection alert system against fast-evolving unmanned aerial threats, including fiber-optic drones.

The Rehovot-based startup did not disclose the “defense customer,” but sources close to the deal confirmed that Magos will supply hundreds of its advanced drone-detection radar systems to the Israeli army as part of the deal. Israel’s Defense Ministry was not available for comment when contacted by The Times of Israel.

The deal comes as Israel has struggled to fend off explosive drone attacks on troops in southern Lebanon and on the northern front. Fighting on multiple fronts over the past two and a half years, Israel has continued to contend with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) incursions from the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group on the northern front, adding a constant, closer-range threat.

Most recently, an IDF probe into a Hezbollah attack on June 19, which led to the deaths of a tank battalion commander and three soldiers, found that their tank was hit by an explosive-laden drone. While slower-moving and usually less destructive than rockets or missiles, drones can pose a challenge due to the difficulty detecting and tracking them as they often fly at low altitude, and the need to deploy........

© The Times of Israel