Ondas Holdings, a provider of private industrial wireless networks and commercial drone and automated data solutions, announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Airobotics Ltd (“Airobotics”), is expediting enhancements to its counter-Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) technology, the Iron Drone Raider. This initiative is in response to the urgent requirements of the Israeli Defense and homeland security forces amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
With the backing of significant Israeli defense entities, Airobotics’ teams are upgrading the interception system to address specific defensive needs arising from the current situation. The Iron Drone’s distinctive integrated AI-based interception drone system is designed to eliminate small hostile drones. It is effective against various small drones, whether controlled or pre-programmed for flight. This includes hostile drones that operate independently of a pilot’s command and control radio link.
“Iron Drone Raider, with its unique capabilities and proprietary technology, represents the cutting edge of counter-drone technology,” said Eric Brock, Chairman and CEO of Ondas. “The Airobotics team is making great progress to finalize the last stages of development in order to provide the system as soon as possible and address the operational needs rising from the field. By deploying the Iron Drone Raider, customers can neutralize the growing threat posed by the proliferation of small, hostile drones, thereby saving lives.”
Small drones are increasingly utilized as aerial surveillance and attack tools. To counter such threats, various methods can be employed. For instance, disrupting small, hostile drones can be achieved by jamming GPS reception or radio frequencies, thereby interfering with the manual control capabilities of the drone pilot. Alternatively, hostile drones that operate autonomously without critical communications can be thwarted through kinetic solutions.
The Iron Drone Raider system possesses unique and proprietary capabilities to counter all forms of small hostile drones, regardless of their operational mode. Upon detecting a small hostile drone, the Iron Drone Raider system autonomously launches a small, hyper-fast interceptor drone. This interceptor drone employs advanced AI vision to detect and track approaching hostile drones, “locking on” to them. Subsequently, the intercepting Raider drone pursues the target and incapacitates the hostile drone using a net and a parachute, safely lowering it to the ground. The entire process, encompassing detection, deployment, tracking, and capturing of the hostile drone, is fully automated, eliminating the need for human pilot intervention.
“We are receiving many inquiries and working around the clock to enhance our Iron Drone Raider system to address the needs of various Israeli Defense forces,” said Meir Kliner, CEO of Airobotics and President of Ondas Autonomous Systems. “With the support of major Israeli defense contractors, we are looking to provide the Iron Drone Raider solution to different forces on the ground and believe that it is going to be a game changer helping to counteract the rising threat from hostile drones.”
Earlier this year, Airobotics, a subsidiary of Ondas, successfully acquired the assets of Iron Drone, an Israel-based company specializing in developing autonomous counter-drone systems. The Iron Drone Raider system leverages AI technologies for identifying and intercepting hostile drones, offering compatibility with various drone detection systems. This system physically intercepts small, hostile drones through a rapid, autonomous drone equipped with interception mechanisms. It is complemented by a highly automated docking station capable of concurrently addressing multiple hostile drone targets. In August of the current year, the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) granted a sum of NIS 2.1 million (approximately $540,000) to support the system’s ongoing development and enhance its capabilities.
About Ondas Holdings Inc
Ondas Holdings Inc. (“Ondas”) is a leading provider of private wireless data solutions via Ondas Networks Inc. (“Ondas Networks”) and commercial drone solutions through American Robotics, Inc. (“American Robotics” or “AR”) and Airobotics LTD (“Airobotics”), which we operate as a separate business unit called Ondas Autonomous Systems.
Ondas Networks is a proprietary, software-based wireless broadband technology developer for large, established, and emerging commercial and government markets. Ondas Networks’ standards-based (802.16s), multi-patented, software-defined radio FullMAX platform enables Mission-Critical IoT (MC-IoT) applications by overcoming the bandwidth limitations of today’s legacy private licensed wireless networks. Ondas Networks’ customer end markets include railroads, utilities, oil and gas, transportation, aviation (including drone operators), and government entities whose demands span a wide range of mission-critical applications.
Our Ondas Autonomous Systems business unit designs develops, and markets commercial drone solutions via the Optimus System and the Iron Drone Raider™ (the “Autonomous Drone Platforms”). The Autonomous Drone Platforms are highly automated, AI-powered drone systems capable of continuous, remote operation and are marketed as “drone-in-a-box” turnkey data solution services. They are deployed for critical industrial and government applications where data and information collection and processing are required. The Autonomous Drone Platforms are typically provided to customers under a Robot-as-a-Service (RAAS) business model. American Robotics and Airobotics have industry-leading regulatory successes, which include a first-of-its-kind FAA Type Certification for the Optimus System and having the first drone system approved by the FAA for automated operation beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) without a human operator on-site.
Ondas Networks, American Robotics, and Airobotics provide users in oil & gas, rail, mining, agriculture, public safety, and other critical infrastructure and government markets with improved connectivity and data collection and information processing capabilities.
