Global Investments in Uncrewed Systems Reach $13 Billion in 2026
Global investments in uncrewed systems hit $13 billion in the first nine months of 2026, as industry leaders at the Tel Aviv UVID conference highlighted the shift toward artificial intelligence and autonomous technologies.
Global investments in uncrewed systems reached $13 billion during the first nine months of 2026, driven by rapid technological advancements and artificial intelligence integration, according to Alon Unger, founder and chairman of the UVID 2026 conference held in Tel Aviv.
Speaking at the opening of the 14th annual conference—the largest in its history with over 6,000 participants and 100 exhibiting companies—Unger noted that uncrewed systems have become mainstream across technology and business. Key challenges facing the industry include shifts in investment structures, expanding professional expertise alongside AI integration, and increasingly complex airspace regulations managing both military and civil traffic.
Geopolitical Shifts and New Business Models
Colonel (Res.) Eitan Arad, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Military Aircraft at Israel Aerospace Industries, emphasized how geopolitical instability is creating new business opportunities. Pointing to regional tensions from the Pacific to the Middle East, where Iran threatens energy infrastructure and shipping lanes, Arad stressed the need to transition from one-off transactions to long-term partnerships.
Highlighting recent operational challenges, Arad described how the company supported international partners during active engagements, rapidly restoring operational readiness to build enduring trust. This approach has translated into dozens of deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars, cementing long-term strategic relationships.
Adapting to Rapid Technological Evolution
Dr. Yehudit Hocherman-Frommer, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Engineer at Ondas, stated that the firm has invested over 3 billion shekels in Israel over the past year. Having acquired 27 companies globally and locally over the last 18 months, Ondas focuses on maximizing capabilities and connecting technologies to solve real-time operational challenges.
Hocherman-Frommer stressed that rapidly evolving threats require shifting away from multi-year development cycles and expensive single missiles toward simpler, autonomous, and cost-effective systems capable of countering cheap drone swarms.
