Ondas is merging with US defense contractor Mistral to secure direct access to US Army and Special Operations contract vehicles and expand its role in defense procurement.
Under a merger agreement, Mistral — a Bethesda, Maryland‑based company with decades of experience supporting US military, federal, and public safety programs — will combine with a subsidiary of Ondas while retaining its current contract administration responsibilities.
The deal provides Ondas, known for its autonomous aerial and ground robot intelligence systems, with additional US-based manufacturing, integration, and federal contracting infrastructure critical to executing large Department of Defense programs.
“With the additional scale, technology portfolio, and global reach of Ondas, we are even better positioned to support our domestic defense customers, industrial base, and industry partners as mission requirements continue to evolve,” Mistral CEO Eyal Banai said.
Major Defense Mergers
Consolidation trends across the defense industry have continued steadily in 2025 and 2026, with several significant transactions emphasizing strategic expansion and technological integration.
For example, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions agreed to acquire Israel‑based Orbit Technologies for $356.3 million, a deal expected to close by March 2026 that will strengthen Kratos’ satellite communications capabilities for unmanned and military systems.
In January 2026, Electro Optic Systems (EOS) bought MARSS Group, a Europe‑based provider of command‑and‑control systems for counter‑drone operations.
That acquisition adds MARSS’ NiDAR technology and suite of C2 capabilities to EOS’ sensor and effector portfolio, enabling integrated detection and response systems for unmanned threats.
In October 2025, Firefly Aerospace agreed to acquire SciTec, a New Jersey‑based national security technology firm, in an approximately $855-million deal to bolster Firefly’s missile tracking, intelligence, and automated command systems capabilities.
Defense industry mergers also include Asian countries. In September 2025, South Korea’s HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering announced a merger of HD Hyundai Mipo and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries to create a unified shipbuilding defense entity targeting expanded global capabilities.
