Israeli defense startup Insignito has secured a major defense contract to deliver 180 acoustic unmanned aerial system (UAS) detection systems designed to safeguard high-security and VIP facilities. The deployment will begin in January 2026 and continue throughout the year until all systems reach full operational readiness.
Each protected location will feature six networked “Dumbo” acoustic sensors, which use sound triangulation technology to identify and track drones by analyzing their noise signatures. The system calculates both direction and distance to detect hostile or unauthorized UAS activity.
According to Insignito, the Dumbo sensor platform has been successfully tested in Israel and the United States, where it demonstrated the ability to detect drones up to 2,000 meters (6,562 feet) away while maintaining precise directional accuracy. This makes the system particularly effective for urban and sensitive environments where radar or RF detection may be limited.
As part of its growth strategy, Insignito plans to expand into the U.S. and European defense markets in 2026, targeting military agencies, defense tech integrators, and homeland security customers. To fuel this expansion, the startup recently raised $1.5 million in pre-seed funding from Fresh Defense Fund (Israel) and Colorado-based ICI Fund. The company will also showcase its Dumbo detection platform this month at a tactical UAS conference in Tel Aviv, attended by defense leaders and government officials.
