Ministry of Defense demands 30 million shekels in compensation from Aerodrome for failure to meet tender conditions

The Ministry of Defense does not intend to let Aerodrome off the hook: it has approached the drone company with a demand for 30 million shekels in compensation after the company failed to meet the conditions of a tender for the supply of drones last year. According to Aerodrome's report, the Ministry of Defense sent the company a pre-lawsuit warning letter, stating:

«The Ministry of Defense intends to insist on the payment of the full agreed compensation, which it claims amounts to approximately 30 million shekels.»

The letter further noted that «without prejudice to the foregoing, the Ministry of Defense is willing to engage in discussions with the company with the aim of avoiding legal proceedings.» Aerodrome is engaged in the collection, analysis, and processing of information using drones to produce advanced digital insights based on artificial intelligence.

The impending legal battle between the Ministry of Defense and the publicly traded company Aerodrome stems from a large tender that the company won at the end of 2024, valued at 73 million shekels. The company did not meet the tender conditions despite its commitment, and in March 2025, the Ministry of Defense determined that it was canceling the company's win and even demanded compensation for the damage caused. Roi Dagani, the company's founder, who had served as CEO until then, resigned from his position shortly thereafter. The company, for its part, even after his departure, informed the Ministry of Defense that it does not intend to pay.

Aerodrome was founded in 2014 by Dagani, an expert in the field of drones and aerial intelligence. In 2021, the company went public on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, a move that contributed to the expansion of its operations into additional markets. In the last year, Aerodrome underwent a facelift, and its ownership also changed. The new controlling group includes former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen and the owners of the Israel-Canada real estate group, Barak Rosen and Asi Tuchmair. The three are partners in a group where the main investor is Ronen Elad, with 28.4%, through Elad Holdings. Aerodrome CEO Michel Ben-Baruch, who replaced Dagani, resigned last May. Aerodrome's stock has soared 337% this year, amid investor expectations that the new management and new ownership will benefit the company.