Ondas has acquired three defense technology companies as it looks to combine drone detection, resilient communications, and navigation capabilities into a broader autonomous systems portfolio.
The $56-million deal adds Insignito, Ottopia Defense, and Caribou Labs to Ondas. The transactions also include up to $32 million in additional earnout payments tied to performance milestones through 2028.
Insignito brings passive acoustic technology for counter-drone operations. Its DUMBO system uses acoustic signatures to detect, classify, track, and locate unmanned aircraft.
Ottopia Defense, meanwhile, adds software and communications technology for remote operation of unmanned vehicles. Its platform connects vehicles with human operators and command centers, managing video, telemetry, mission data, and control commands across available communications channels.
For its part, Caribou Labs brings resilient communications and navigation for environments where Global Navigation Satellite System signals are unavailable or disrupted.
Ondas plans to integrate the three technologies with its existing autonomous platforms. The acquisitions are also expected to add 37 employees.
Defense Firms Build Autonomous Expertise
Ondas’ strategy reflects a broader push by defense and aerospace companies to acquire specialized technologies rather than develop every part of an autonomous system internally.
In August, Tonner Drones agreed to acquire autonomous surveillance company Azur Drones, adding its Skeyetech system for automated aerial security to its portfolio.
That month, AEVEX purchased BlackSea Technologies for up to $650 million, expanding its autonomous systems portfolio across air, surface, and subsea platforms.
Earlier, in May, Elbit Systems’ FUSE acquired Israeli robotics company Bluewhite, which develops autonomous systems that can convert conventional off-road vehicles into unmanned platforms.