One of the most important players in the global anti-drone protection market is led by a former Russian teenager who emigrated to New Zealand. Oleg Vornik, a mathematician and economist by training, is the CEO of DroneShield, a company listed on the Australian S&P/ASX 200 index and valued at its peak at nearly six billion dollars.
Vornik left Russia in his teens and grew up in social housing in New Zealand. In Australia, he initially became the CFO of DroneShield, and in 2017 he was appointed CEO. The company does not belong to him — the founders are two Americans, John Franklin and Brian Hearing, MIT graduates and collaborators of the US defense industry.
According to the Australian Financial Review, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was the catalyst for commercial success. Deliveries of technology to Ukraine generated revenues of tens of millions of dollars. In 2022, Russia personally sanctioned Vornik for the support he provided to Kiev.
DroneShield produces radio jamming systems, sensors, and portable drone neutralizing equipment, currently used in over 50 countries. Among its clients are military structures, critical infrastructures, and mass event organizers.
In 2023, the company signed a 33 million dollar contract with the US government, which led to an increase in investor interest. Most recently, DroneShield signed the largest contract in its history: 60 million dollars with a European client.
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