Sensor Fusion Is The New Defense Frontier: AI Video Joins RF In The Race To Counter Drones

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The global counter-unmanned aerial system market is projected to grow from approximately USD 2.08 billion in 2025 to roughly USD 19.06 billion by 2035, a CAGR of about 25.8%, according to Precedence Research.[1]
• VisionWave Holdings (Nasdaq: VWAV) has acquired the xClibre™ AI video intelligence IP — independently valued at approximately USD 60 million by BDO Consulting Group — to add a visual perception layer to its RF-based defense platforms.[2]
• The Pentagon’s Drone Dominance Program is now targeting more than 200,000 autonomous systems, against the backdrop of a 2026 US defense budget being discussed at roughly USD 1 trillion.[3]
• xClibre is built on an edge-first « video-as-a-sensor » architecture, designed to convert existing camera infrastructure into a real-time AI intelligence layer with no cloud dependency.[2]
• Featured tickers covered in this report: VWAV, REKR, ONDS, RCAT, MRCY.