The Israeli Ministry of Defense is expanding its autonomous capabilities by awarding US firm Ondas a multimillion-dollar contract to develop and produce its next-generation tactical attack drones.
Beyond its attack role, the program puts an emphasis on autonomy, mission integration, and connectivity with Israel’s broader command-and-control networks.
The resulting drone is intended to reduce response times, improve precision, and extend the reach of frontline forces while giving commanders greater flexibility across different missions, engagement ranges, and tactical environments.
The program also emphasizes production readiness and rapid deployment, pointing to a system designed to move beyond a single strike role and adapt to different operational needs.
“The Israeli Ministry of Defense operates at the forefront of modern defense technology and has some of the world’s most demanding operational requirements,” said Eric Brock, chairman and chief executive officer of Ondas.
“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.”
Balancing Cost and Capability
Ondas said the drone is being developed to support Israel’s evolving operational doctrine.
The program also comes amid growing reliance on tactical attack drones, which have become an increasingly important part of modern warfare.
The new drone will prioritize low-cost production, making affordability a central part of its design.
Taken together, these features point to a tactical system designed not only to deliver effects on the battlefield, but also to give commanders a more flexible and scalable option for different operational needs.
“This award represents an important opportunity to apply Ondas’ autonomous systems capabilities to one of the most important emerging requirements on the modern battlefield,” said Oshri Lugassy, co-chief executive officer of Ondas Autonomous Systems.
