Ondas wins Defense Ministry tender for next generation attack drones

U.S. company Ondas has secured a major contract from the Israeli Defense Ministry to develop the next generation of attack drones for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The award comes just a week after Ondas announced the appointment of former Mossad chief David Barnea to lead its defense division. Ondas bested established Israeli defense firms like Elbit Systems and Rafael in the competitive tender.

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This strategic award represents an important validation of the defense technology platform we are building at Ondas and our growing ability to serve as a prime contractor for complex, next-generation defense programs.

The multimillion-dollar "Digital Bat" program is designed to deliver a low-cost, tactical drone platform. It will be powered by advanced software and engineered to meet the IDF's rapidly changing operational requirements, emphasizing quick and inexpensive deployment. Ondas, a Nasdaq-listed company valued at $5.3 billion, has seen its stock rise 10% since Barnea's recruitment.

Ondas's Israeli branch is led by Brig.-Gen. (res.) Oshri Lugassy, a former IDF chief engineering officer. The company has strategically expanded its portfolio over the past year by acquiring several Israeli defense technology firms. These acquisitions include drone manufacturer Airobotics, AI systems developer Omnisys, airborne defense specialist BIRD Aerosystems, ground robotics firm Roboteam, and drone detection technology provider Sentrycs.

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The Israeli Ministry of Defense operates at the forefront of modern defense technology and has some of the most demanding operational requirements in the world. Their selection of Ondas reflects confidence in our internal engineering capabilities, operational experience, and ability to rapidly translate changing battlefield requirements into scalable, mission-ready systems.

Eric Brock, chairman and CEO of Ondas, stated that the award validates the company's defense technology platform and its growing capacity to manage complex defense programs. He highlighted the Israeli Ministry of Defense's position at the forefront of global defense technology and its demanding requirements. Brock emphasized a market shift towards affordable autonomous systems that can be produced and deployed at scale.

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We are witnessing a fundamental shift in defense priorities toward affordable autonomous systems that can be produced and deployed at meaningful scale.