VisionWave Targets $20.3B C-UAS Market with ARGUS and Acquisitions
VWAV•Section 1709 of the FY25 NDAA effectively bans foreign-manufactured drones, boosting U.S. C-UAS procurement as defense budgets approach $1.5 trillion. VisionWave is layering RF sensing, stereo/thermal vision, and AI analytics across its ARGUS counter-drone system and recent acquisitions to target the $20.3 billion market by 2030.
1. Shifting Defense Procurement Environment
The U.S. defense budget is nearing $1 trillion for 2026 with proposals to reach $1.5 trillion in FY2027, and Section 1709 of the FY25 NDAA has effectively barred foreign-manufactured drones from procurement. This regulatory change elevates counter-drone systems to urgent priority as the Pentagon’s Drone Dominance Program plans to field over 200,000 autonomous systems.
2. VisionWave’s Multi-Modal Counter-Drone Platform
VisionWave is developing ARGUS, an AI-driven counter-drone system combining RF-based sensing, stereo and thermal computer vision, and AI video analytics in a unified four-layer architecture. This vertically integrated stack is designed to detect, classify, and neutralize hostile drones in real time, aligning with Pentagon procurement preferences.
3. Strategic Acquisitions Bolster Platform Capabilities
Since early 2026, VisionWave has acquired SolarDrone Ltd. (1.5 million shares plus 300,000 warrants), taken a 51% stake in Junko Solar Ltd. for $204,000, and reached a definitive agreement to acquire 51% of C.M. Composite Materials. These moves expand its autonomous ground and aerial platforms and add composite materials expertise for defense applications.
4. Market Outlook and Regulatory Tailwinds
The global counter-unmanned aircraft system market is projected to grow from $6.64 billion in 2025 to $20.31 billion by 2030 at a 25.1% CAGR, with North America leading growth. Regulatory bans on foreign drones and rising U.S. defense investments create a structural moat for domestic C-UAS suppliers like VisionWave.
