Droneshield CEO Oleg Vornik Talks Counter-Drone Tech

The Motley Fool interviews the CEO of the Australian defense company specializing in counter-drone solutions.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Droneshield is an Australian-based defense technology company that specializes in counter-drone technology. In this podcast, Motley Fool co-founder and CEO Tom Gardner and Motley Fool data engineer Beegee Alop talk with Droneshield CEO Oleg Vornik about counter-drones, the civilian and military markets, and lessons on leadership.

Why it matters

Drone technology has rapidly evolved, and bad actors have started using drones for nefarious purposes, as seen in incidents like the attacks on Saudi oil facilities by Houthis and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Droneshield's counter-drone solutions are in high demand from both military and civilian sectors to detect and neutralize drone threats.

The details

Droneshield's technology uses a combination of radio frequency, radar, and cameras to detect drones, and then employs smart jamming to take them down without causing physical harm. The company has seen significant demand from the military, particularly in Ukraine, as well as from civilian sectors like data centers, prisons, and critical infrastructure like power plants and airports that are vulnerable to drone-based attacks or espionage.

  • In 2018, Houthis were attacking Saudi oil facilities using small drones, driving demand for counter-drone systems.
  • Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, Droneshield has delivered hundreds of its systems to Poland, which then donated some to Ukraine.

The players

Droneshield

An Australian-based defense technology company that specializes in counter-drone technology.

Oleg Vornik

The CEO of Droneshield, who previously worked as a banker and was brought in to commercially run the business after the founders started it in 2014.

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What they’re saying

“We get a lot of feedback from Ukrainians that in addition to saving their lives, it actually gives them a lot of that psychological confidence because you think about it, like for us, the buzzing annoying buzzing sound from a drone is just a bit of a nuisance. For them, it's full on trauma because you hear that thing like it's going to kill you.”

— Oleg Vornik, CEO, Droneshield (The Motley Fool)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.