Ondas Completes Rotron Aerospace Acquisition, Expanding Autonomous Long-Range Systems

Ondas Inc. closed its acquisition of UK-based Rotron Aerospace Ltd. on March 16, 2026, in a deal valued at roughly $6.7 million in cash plus 3.33 million Ondas common shares, with a portion of those shares subject to a 12-month lock-up and trading-volume limits. The transaction, executed through the purchase of Rotron's indirect owner Gilo Holdings, gives the West Palm Beach-based defense technology company a physical foothold in Britain and fast-track access to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The acquisition expands Ondas' capabilities across unmanned aircraft technologies supporting long-endurance operations. Rotron's portfolio includes vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) platforms, long-range unmanned aircraft, advanced aero-engines, and integrated propulsion systems known for their high power-to-weight efficiency and reliability in demanding aerospace and defense environments. Specific platforms include long-endurance dual-use VTOL systems and next-generation uncrewed combat aerial vehicles, with mission-specific products including the Talon multi-role VTOL series and the Defendor one-way autonomous attack system powered by Rotron's proprietary engines and fan drive systems.

Eric Brock, Chairman and CEO of Ondas, said that "Rotron's propulsion and aircraft engineering capabilities represent a critical addition to the Ondas Autonomous Systems platform" and that "their advanced aero-engine technologies and long-range unmanned aircraft significantly expand the endurance and operational reach of next-generation autonomous systems."

With the transaction now complete, Rotron will be Ondas' UK-based go-to-market platform, strengthening Ondas Autonomous Systems' ability to design, develop, and scale next-generation unmanned systems supporting defense, security, and critical infrastructure missions. The acquisition also gives Ondas a dedicated UK industrial base and deepens its ties with the UK Ministry of Defence and the broader NATO defense ecosystem.

The engineering pedigree behind that industrial base has roots in an unlikely place. In 2007, Rotron's Founder and CTO Gilo Cardozo and adventurer Bear Grylls attempted to fly above Mount Everest in a personal, foot-launched aircraft, a feat many considered impossible, a challenge that forced Cardozo to design a new generation of vibration-free rotary engine that was more compact, lighter, and three times as powerful for its cubic capacity as conventional ultralight aero engines of the era. Cardozo, described as one of the UK's most respected aviation innovators, was awarded an MBE in 2011 for services to engineering and business.

Cardozo said in a statement: "Joining Ondas provides an opportunity to scale our unmanned aircraft and propulsion technologies within a broader autonomous systems platform." He added that Rotron looks "forward to supporting the continued development of advanced unmanned systems and contributing to Ondas' mission of delivering high-performance autonomous solutions."

The acquisition strengthens Ondas' position within the UK defense ecosystem, providing a foundation for localized development and production that supports the company's broader strategy of delivering advanced autonomous capabilities across NATO and allied markets. Rotron was founded in 2008 and in 2023 became the first UAV to launch an Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System laser-guided rocket and a Javelin anti-tank missile during live-fire demonstrations at a U.S. military proving ground.

The Rotron deal is part of a broader expansion push at Ondas, which recently pre-announced a 600% year-over-year jump in fourth-quarter revenues and announced a $175 million merger with Mistral Inc., a government integration specialist. Stifel reiterated its Buy rating on ONDS stock, which has climbed nearly 1,276% over the past twelve months, pushing its market cap to approximately $4.86 billion.

Ondas will provide outlook information regarding Rotron on its earnings conference call scheduled for Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.