Former Israeli Security Chiefs Join Ondus Defense as Company Expands Rapidly

Israeli defense holding company Ondus Defense continues to strengthen its leadership ranks with the imminent appointment of retired Brigadier General Yehuda Almogais as Vice President, following the recent naming of former Mossad chief David (Dadi) Barnea as Chairman and President. Almogais, who until November 2023 headed the Research and Development Division at the Ministry of Defense, is joining Ondus just ten months after leaving his government post. This division is pivotal in bridging the Israeli defense establishment with defense industries and oversees the development of advanced combat technologies.

Ondus, registered in the US and secretive about its main investor's identity, has aggressively expanded over the past two years, acquiring more than 15 small companies specializing in autonomous systems, ground robotics, and drones. The company has attracted significant capital, including nearly $1 billion from an anonymous investor last year, fueling rapid acquisitions and recruitment of senior former officials from Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the Ministry of Defense, and the IDF.

Among the notable former Rafael executives now at Ondus are retired Major General Yoav Har Even, Dr. Irit Eden, Dr. Yehudit Hochman, and former M&A VP Moshe (Miara) Maor, who was involved in a controversial Rafael acquisition. Additionally, retired Brigadier General Yaniv Rotem, a former head of R&D at the Ministry of Defense, also holds a senior position at Ondus. The company, traded on NASDAQ with a valuation of $4.3 billion, aims to become a major player in the global defense market, leveraging the expertise and insider knowledge of its new leadership.

Barnea's appointment, just two months after ending a 30-year tenure at Mossad, has boosted Ondus's stock by 11%. While his move raised eyebrows within the defense community, Ondus confirmed it received full legal approval from Mossad's legal counsel. The Ministry of Defense is reportedly scrutinizing Almogais's transition under a ten-month cooling-off period mandated by a Jerusalem district court ruling.

Ondus is also pursuing a significant acquisition of Amprest, a Rafael subsidiary responsible for the command and control units of Israel's Iron Dome air defense system, in a deal valued at $200 million. This transaction requires Ministry of Defense approval due to the classified nature of Amprest's technology. The Ministry has declined to comment on the deal or Ondus's investor identity, stating it evaluates all supplier registrations and contracts while protecting national security interests. Ondus's rapid growth and recruitment of top defense officials highlight ongoing shifts in Israel's defense industry amid regional conflicts and global arms races, though regulatory transparency remains limited.