Former Mossad head Barnea joins US defense company Ondas Inc. as new global president, chairman

Former Mossad Director David Barnea has joined the ranks of the defense technology sector, taking on the roles of Global President and Chairman at the US-based company Ondas Inc. The company announced the appointment on Monday, signaling a significant move for the former intelligence chief into the private defense industry.

According to Ondas, Barnea's responsibilities will encompass supporting the company's global expansion initiatives, driving the development of strategic technologies, and nurturing relationships with defense and government entities. The company specifically credited Barnea with enhancing the Mossad's intelligence, technological, and operational capacities during his tenure, viewing his leadership as a key factor in his recruitment.

Ondas stated that Barnea's appointment aligns with its strategy to create unified defense technology platforms. These platforms are intended to integrate intelligence, communications, and decision-making processes into operational execution, powered by AI-enabled software. Barnea is expected to engage with entities across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, regions where investments in autonomous defense systems are reportedly on the rise.

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The nature of warfare is changing rapidly, as demonstrated by the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. Operational advantage increasingly depends on the ability to combine intelligence, artificial intelligence, resilient communications, autonomous platforms and precision capabilities into one coordinated operational environment.

This appointment occurs as Ondas is undergoing a period of expansion, having recently secured substantial orders for unmanned ground systems, autonomous precision-strike technologies, and counter-drone measures. Barnea commented on the evolving nature of warfare, citing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine as examples. He emphasized the growing importance of combining intelligence, artificial intelligence, resilient communications, autonomous platforms, and precision capabilities into a coordinated operational environment for achieving an operational advantage.

Looking ahead, Barnea expressed his enthusiasm for working with Ondas to bolster the company's global reach and contribute to the development of next-generation, AI-enabled, multi-domain defense systems. His transition from leading a national intelligence agency to a prominent role in a defense technology firm underscores the increasing convergence of intelligence expertise and advanced technological development in the global security landscape.

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to support the Company’s global expansion and help develop the next generation of AI-enabled, multi-domain defense systems.