After SkyHoop was piloted in Ukraine, where it was tested against Russian drone swarms, it attracted international attention.
By Hezy Laing
In July 2025, SkyHoop, an Israeli defense start‑up founded by IDF reservist and technology professional Zach Bergerson, emerged as one of the most promising innovations in drone detection.
Bergerson, 36 years old, served in Gaza and witnessed firsthand how soldiers were forced to rely solely on their eyes and ears to detect hostile drones approaching overhead.
This experience inspired him to create a wearable device that could provide real‑time alerts to troops about aerial threats, using smartphone‑based technology combined with artificial intelligence, computer vision, and trajectory prediction.
The system, known as SkyHoop, is designed to be portable, lightweight, and easy to deploy in combat zones, offering soldiers a critical edge against enemy UAVs.
SkyHoop’s technology integrates deep learning algorithms with optical tracking, enabling accurate identification of drones even in complex environments such as urban battlefields or open desert terrain.
The device runs efficiently on smartphones and specialized cameras, making it accessible to soldiers without requiring heavy or complex equipment.
Its offline capabilities ensure that troops can rely on it even in areas without stable communications, a feature particularly relevant for IDF units operating in Gaza, southern Lebanon, and the West Bank.
SkyHoop has already been piloted in Ukraine, where it was tested against Russian drone swarms, and the results attracted international attention.
The United States Department of Defense has expressed interest in conducting trials with the system, highlighting its potential global impact beyond Israel’s borders.
Reports from Reuters and the Jerusalem Post in July 2025 noted that SkyHoop is part of a wider surge in Israeli defense start‑ups led by reservists returning from combat, who are transforming battlefield experience into technological innovation.
Israel’s defense‑tech sector now includes more than 300 active companies, and SkyHoop has quickly become a leader among them, representing the fusion of military necessity and high‑tech expertise.
Bergerson has emphasized that his goal is to save lives by giving soldiers precious seconds of warning before drones can strike, whether they are carrying explosives, conducting surveillance, or coordinating enemy attacks.
The company’s rapid rise illustrates how wartime innovation can fuel both national defense and international collaboration, positioning SkyHoop as a symbol of Israel’s resilience and ingenuity in the face of evolving threats.
