US Defense Giant Onward Integrates Israeli Robotics and Drone Tech Under Former Mossad Chief

The American defense company Onward has acquired around 15 Israeli defense technology firms for hundreds of millions of dollars, consolidating a broad range of autonomous systems including drones, ground robots, sensors, and interception technologies. Most of these companies are Israeli, and Onward’s management is predominantly Israeli as well. Recently, the company appointed former Mossad chief Dedi Barnea as its president and chairman, signaling a strategic push to unify these diverse technologies into a single operational platform.

Onward, headquartered in Florida and publicly traded on NASDAQ with a valuation exceeding $4 billion, owns notable Israeli firms such as iRobotix, Robo-Team, Sentrycs, Bird, and Omnisis. The company aims to create an integrated combat force combining unmanned aerial vehicles, robotic ground units, detection systems, anti-drone defenses, mine clearance, and mission management software. This vision aligns with current U.S. military requirements for coordinated autonomous capabilities.

Dr. Yehudit Hocherman Fromer, Onward’s Chief Technology Officer, highlighted the evolving battlefield dynamics revealed by conflicts in Ukraine and Israel, where inexpensive yet lethal autonomous systems have become widely accessible. She emphasized the asymmetry between high-quality precision weapons and mass-produced simple platforms, driving Western militaries to seek technological superiority through scalable, networked systems.

A key focus area is the collaboration between human soldiers and autonomous robots, including robotic dogs and remote-controlled arms that can operate in hazardous environments. These systems are designed to perform tasks such as clearing routes, detecting mines, delivering supplies, and evacuating wounded personnel. Hocherman Fromer stressed that lethal decisions will remain under human control, with AI providing target identification and tactical recommendations.

Another critical domain is defense against low-altitude drones, including fiber-optic controlled UAVs used by Hezbollah, which are resistant to traditional electronic warfare. Onward’s solutions combine radar, optics, acoustics, radio frequency detection, and kinetic or cyber countermeasures. The company also anticipates challenges from autonomous drone swarms.

Onward’s portfolio includes the IRON DRONE interceptor, PROBOT and ROOK heavy robots capable of navigating difficult terrain, the Golem Detector for mine detection, and the Sentrycs system for drone identification and neutralization. These technologies are integrated via the LADOS command system, which coordinates detection, engagement, and operator guidance. Having secured contracts in Israel and the U.S., Onward now faces the challenge of proving its acquisitions can operate as a cohesive, effective system rather than a fragmented collection of technologies. Hocherman Fromer described the company’s potential as "limitless" once these capabilities are fully integrated.