Fortem Technologies (Lindon, UT) has secured a multimillion-dollar DHS contract as the sole kinetic counter-drone provider for U.S. venues during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, deploying net-based DroneHunter interceptors to neutralize aerial threats safely over crowded stadiums.
Lindon, Utah — February 12, 2026
Fortem Technologies has been selected by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as the only kinetic counter-drone solution provider to protect American venues during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, securing a multimillion-dollar order tied to one of the largest security operations in sporting history.
The Lindon, Utah-based airspace security company will deploy its net-equipped DroneHunter® interceptors to detect, track, and physically capture unauthorized drones over stadiums and event sites across the United States. The 2026 tournament — the largest FIFA World Cup ever staged — will feature 48 teams competing across 16 host cities in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Eleven U.S. cities will host matches between June and July, with more than one million international visitors expected.
For federal and local security officials, the scale of the event presents a unique challenge: how to neutralize aerial threats over densely packed venues without endangering the tens of thousands of spectators below.
Fortem says its system is designed specifically for that problem.
DroneHunter uses a patented net-based capture mechanism to intercept and remove hostile drones intact, preventing falling debris and avoiding interference with stadium communications systems. In contrast to signal jamming — which can disrupt legitimate wireless communications and may fail against autonomous drones — or kinetic “kill” systems that destroy targets mid-air, the company’s approach physically captures the aircraft and lowers it safely.
That distinction has proven critical in large-event deployments. Fortem was also selected for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, marking 2026 as its second consecutive World Cup deployment. In both cases, it was chosen as the only kinetic mitigation solution among the counter-drone technologies authorized for the event.
“The threat posed by small drones is one of the most consequential shifts in security of our lifetime,” said CEO Jon Gruen. “But it’s a threat we know how to stop — and we’ve already proven it on one of the world’s biggest stages.”
Small unmanned aircraft, once viewed largely as recreational devices, are now widely recognized by security agencies as potential tools for surveillance, disruption, and coordinated attacks. Stadiums and public gatherings represent high-visibility targets, and conventional countermeasures often carry unacceptable risk in crowded urban environments.
The DHS order includes Fortem’s TrueView™ R30 radar systems for detection and tracking, SkyDome® command-and-control software for automated threat response, and DroneHunter® hexcopter interceptors. The systems are designed for rapid deployment and repositioning as the tournament progresses from city to city.
The procurement is part of a broader federal push to strengthen domestic counter-drone capabilities ahead of the World Cup and other major national events, including celebrations marking the United States’ 250th anniversary. In January, DHS announced a new Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Counter-UAS, along with $115 million in counter-drone investments.
For Fortem, the contract reinforces its position in a rapidly evolving airspace security market where demand is increasingly driven by geopolitical tensions, domestic event security, and the proliferation of low-cost unmanned systems.
With more than a million visitors expected and global broadcast audiences in the billions, the 2026 World Cup will serve as another high-stakes proving ground — not just for teams on the field, but for the next generation of airspace defense technologies operating above it.
Learn more at fortemtech.com.