From Road Safety to Battlefield: SaverOne's Tech Pivots to Defense

PETAH TIKVAH, Israel – March 10, 2026 – A technology initially designed to prevent drivers from being distracted by their cell phones is now being adapted for the modern battlefield. SaverOne, an Israeli company specializing in transportation safety, has completed the first stage of a strategic transaction with U.S. defense technology firm VisionWave, launching a collaboration aimed at repurposing its unique radio-frequency (RF) sensing capabilities for defense, homeland security, and critical infrastructure protection.

The deal, which involves an initial investment of approximately $2.75 million from VisionWave, marks a significant pivot for SaverOne. It expands the company's focus from saving lives on the road to protecting assets and personnel in high-stakes security environments. As part of the initial stage, VisionWave has acquired a 19.99% equity stake in SaverOne, while SaverOne has received an equivalent value in VisionWave stock and a full license to use intellectual property related to VisionWave's defense products. This partnership aims to address a growing global need for advanced detection systems that can operate where conventional optical sensors fail.

A Strategic Pivot into a High-Growth Market

The transaction represents far more than a simple technology license; it is a calculated entry into the burgeoning defense and security sector. The full strategic agreement could see VisionWave invest up to $7 million in SaverOne, contingent on meeting specific development milestones. If all stages are completed, VisionWave is positioned to become the majority shareholder, owning approximately 51% of SaverOne, transforming the road safety specialist into a core component of its defense-focused parent company.

This move allows SaverOne to tap into a market with explosive growth potential. The global counter-drone market alone, a key application for this technology, is projected to surge from $6.64 billion in 2025 to over $20 billion by 2030. By diversifying, SaverOne aims to create significant new revenue streams and reduce its reliance on the automotive sector. For a company that has faced financial volatility, this expansion into a large and well-funded addressable market is a critical strategic maneuver.

Ori Gilboa, Chief Executive Officer of SaverOne, highlighted the move's importance in the official announcement. “This marks an important step in expanding SaverOne’s RF technology into defense, homeland security and critical infrastructure markets,” he commented. “We believe this collaboration can open meaningful new market opportunities for SaverOne and accelerate the commercialization of advanced RF-based defense applications.”

Repurposing RF: From Cell Phones to Concealed Threats

At the heart of this collaboration is SaverOne's patented AI-powered technology. Originally, its system used a set of directional antennas and sophisticated algorithms to detect and precisely locate active cell phone RF signals within a vehicle. This allowed it to selectively block distracting applications for the driver while leaving passenger phones unaffected. The system's strength lies in its ability to analyze RF signals—using metrics like angle of arrival and time of flight—to determine a device's exact location.

It is this core capability for non-line-of-sight (NLoS) detection that makes the technology so valuable for defense. While cameras, LiDAR, and radar are staples of modern security, they are often rendered ineffective by walls, dense foliage, bad weather, or smoke. SaverOne's system, however, can detect the RF footprint of a device or person through such obstructions. Recent real-world demonstrations have already validated its ability to detect wireless signal activity and pedestrian presence in limited-visibility scenarios.

The adaptation for defense is straightforward in concept but powerful in application. The same technology used to detect a vulnerable pedestrian's phone around a blind corner can be repurposed to detect a concealed combatant, an unauthorized individual in a restricted area, or the control signal of a hostile drone. The companies plan to integrate these capabilities into a commercially deployable solution, with a demonstration for concealed-threat scenarios anticipated before the end of 2026.

Bolstering VisionWave's Integrated Defense Platform

For VisionWave, the partnership is a key step in its strategy to build an integrated, multi-domain technology platform for defense and security. VisionWave is developing a comprehensive ecosystem of autonomous systems, including its ARGUS AI-driven counter-drone system, the VARAN unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), and AI-integrated remote weapon stations. The company’s vision is to fuse advanced sensing, AI, and autonomous platforms into unified solutions for complex operational environments.

Within this framework, SaverOne is set to become VisionWave’s dedicated operating arm for RF-focused defense initiatives. By acquiring a controlling stake and licensing its own IP, VisionWave is not just buying a component but integrating a specialized team and technology into its core strategy. SaverOne's proven RF sensing will provide a critical data layer for VisionWave’s platforms, enhancing situational awareness by detecting threats that other sensors miss.

“The completion of the first stage of this transaction represents an important milestone in VisionWave’s strategy to build an integrated sensing and autonomy technology platform,” said Douglas Davis, Executive Chairman of VisionWave. This integration will enable applications such as advanced counter-UAS, perimeter protection for critical infrastructure, and enhanced battlefield awareness, where identifying threats before they become visible is a decisive advantage.

Navigating a Competitive Battlefield

The RF sensing market for defense is not without established players. Companies like D-Fend Solutions and DroneShield have already deployed sophisticated counter-drone systems that use RF analysis to detect, locate, and even take control of rogue drones. These systems are in use by military, government, and law enforcement agencies worldwide.

However, the SaverOne-VisionWave partnership brings a unique angle to the competitive landscape. While many existing systems focus on detecting drone communication links, SaverOne's technology was born from the challenge of detecting and locating the ubiquitous RF signals of personal cell phones. This expertise in identifying faint, varied, and often obscured signals in cluttered environments provides a distinct advantage.

The plan to adapt SaverOne's existing Vulnerable Road User (VRU) platform—designed to detect pedestrians by their phone signals—for defense applications highlights this unique approach. It opens the door to detecting dismounted personnel or other threats based on their personal electronic devices, providing a layer of intelligence that complements traditional electronic warfare and signal intelligence systems. This focus on NLoS detection in complex terrain could carve out a vital niche in urban warfare, infrastructure protection, and special operations, where visibility is a constant challenge. The joint effort aims to deliver solutions that are not just reactive but can provide predictive intelligence by mapping the unseen RF environment.

The successful completion of this first stage sets a clear path forward, with subsequent investments tied to the disciplined execution of technology integration and early customer engagement. As the partnership progresses, the defense and security industries will be watching closely to see if this innovative pivot from road safety can deliver a new generation of sensing capabilities for an increasingly complex world.