The DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) share price is soaring higher today.
Shares in the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) drone defence company closed Friday trading for $3.95. In morning trade on Monday, shares are swapping hands for $4.06 apiece, up 2.7%.
For some context, the ASX 300 is up 0.3% at this same time.
Here's what's catching investor interest today.
DroneShield share price soars on new civilian product launch
Investors are bidding up the DroneShield share price after the company announced the launch of SentryCiv. That's the company's subscription-based AI-enabled counterdrone solution, which it specifically designed for the civilian rather than military markets.
Amid the rising threat of drone strikes across the world, SentryCiv is reported to deliver a non-emitting (completely passive) new layer of security to a wide range of vulnerable civilian infrastructure. Potential customers include airports, utilities, data centres, stadiums, power grids, correctional facilities, and other high-profile sites.
The company said it can't accurately estimate the value of future sales at this time. However, the DroneShield share price could get longer support from the new AI initiative, with the company revealing it expects sales "to be material" amid increasing demand for drone protection from the civilian sector.
The company said it will provide further guidance once that's available.
What did management say?
Commenting on the SentryCiv launch that's boosting the DroneShield share price today, CEO Oleg Vornik said, "As drone threats continue to proliferate worldwide, critical infrastructure is increasingly vulnerable to malicious and unauthorized drone activity."
Vornik added:
SentryCiv offers a comprehensive, scalable solution that provides real-time detection, and situational awareness. This next-gen technology is engineered to seamlessly integrate into existing security frameworks, enabling a rapid response to potential threats without disrupting operations.
To align with various civilian institutions budgets, Vornik noted that SentryCiv has no upfront purchase cost. Rather, it is a pure-subscription SaaS-based product.
"Airspace security for critical infrastructure and public safety has never been more urgent," Tom Adams, director of public safety at DroneShield, added.
According to Adams:
SentryCiv represents our commitment to making advanced counter-drone solutions accessible and affordable for non-military sectors. This solution is a game-changer for industries like corrections, aviation, and utilities, providing cost effective, reliable means of protecting critical assets from evolving drone threats.
The company said it will provide quarterly software updates to the AI engine to expand its drone detection capability, improve performance, and introduce new features to stay ahead of rapidly evolving drone developments.
With today's lift factored in, the DroneShield share price is up an eye-popping 441.3% so far in 2025.
