David Barnea joins Ondas Defense: company wins IDF drone tender
A week after former Mossad chief David Barnea joined the American company Ondas, it announced winning a Ministry of Defense tender to develop tactical attack drones for the IDF.
The American company Ondas, a provider of autonomous systems and advanced defense technologies, announced last week the appointment of former Mossad chief David 'Dadi' Barnea to its senior management. Barnea will serve as Global President and Chairman of the Board of Ondas Defense, playing a central role in the company's technological development strategy and business integration.
On Tuesday, the company announced it had won a Ministry of Defense tender to develop the next generation of tactical attack drones for the IDF, surpassing competitors such as Elbit and Rafael. The strategic program, dubbed 'Digital Bat' and valued at millions of dollars, aims to provide infantry battalions with a low-cost, rapidly produced, and software-operated drone platform, offering a flexible and autonomous response to battlefield requirements.
Ondas, traded on NASDAQ with a market cap of approximately $5.3 billion, operates in Israel under the leadership of Brigadier General (Res.) Oshri Lugasi. Over the past year, the company has acquired several local technology and defense firms, including Airobotics, Omnisys, and Bird Aerosystems. Meanwhile, its attempt to acquire mPrest, developer of the 'Iron Dome' command and control system, was blocked by the Ministry of Defense, which has been auditing the company for months following a $1 billion investment from an undisclosed source.
According to Ondas management, this win reflects a global shift in defense priorities toward low-cost, scalable autonomous systems. The project focuses on establishing a full operational envelope, encompassing mission software, production infrastructure, and seamless integration into the IDF's command and control systems.
