US Ondas Wins Israeli Defense Ministry Contract to Develop Next-Gen Attack Drones for IDF

US-based defense holding company Ondas announced it has won a major Israeli Defense Ministry tender to develop the next generation of tactical attack drones for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). This contract, part of the multi-million dollar "Digital Bat" strategic program, aims to deliver a low-cost, software-driven drone platform designed to meet the evolving operational needs of the IDF for rapid and affordable aerial support. Ondas outpaced established Israeli defense firms like Elbit Systems and Rafael, which already supply attack drones to the IDF.

Ondas, publicly traded on NASDAQ with a market value of $5.3 billion, has expanded its Israeli presence through recent acquisitions of several local defense tech companies, including Aerobotics, Omnisis, Bird Aerosystems, Robotics, Centrix, and Indo. The Israeli branch is led by retired Brigadier General Oshri Lugasi, formerly a senior engineering officer and VP at Rafael. Despite attempts, Ondas was blocked from acquiring Amperst, the maker of the Iron Dome command and control system, by the Israeli Defense Ministry, which has been scrutinizing Ondas for months after it raised $1 billion from an undisclosed investor.

Ondas CEO and Chairman Eric Brock highlighted the strategic importance of the grant, emphasizing the company’s growing engineering capabilities and operational experience to serve as a prime contractor for complex next-generation defense programs. He noted a global shift toward affordable autonomous systems deployable at scale, citing the US Department of Defense’s $1.1 billion "Drone Dominance" initiative as a parallel effort to rapidly field low-cost unmanned attack systems.

The new Israeli tender focuses on providing infantry brigades with advanced tactical air capabilities that are quickly deployable and adaptable to complex operational environments. The development effort will concentrate on the air platform, autonomous functionality, mission integration, systems engineering, production readiness, and compatibility with broader command and control systems. Oshri Lugasi described the project as a critical opportunity to implement Ondas’ autonomous systems capabilities to meet the growing battlefield demand for rapidly deployable, integrated aerial systems that evolve with mission requirements.

Former Mossad chief Dedi Barnea, recently appointed president and chairman of Ondas’ security division, stated, "Our commitment will only be fulfilled when the regime is replaced," underscoring the company’s strategic ambitions in the region. The contract marks a significant milestone for Ondas as it seeks to deepen its footprint in Israeli defense technology and expand its role in supplying cutting-edge military systems to Israel and allied markets.