Defense Ministry demands NIS 30 million from Aerodrome for tender failure
The Ministry of Defense sent a warning before a lawsuit - the company announced that it would refuse to pay the compensation; Aerodrome won a tender in 2024 worth NIS 73 million, but did not meet the terms of supplying the drones to which it had committed; Aerodrome's stock has jumped 337% this year amid changes in management and control of the company
The Ministry of Defense does not intend to give up on Aerodrome: it has contacted the UAV company demanding payment of NIS 30 million in compensation, after the company did not meet the terms of the tender for the supply of UAVs last year. According to Aerodrome's report, the Ministry of Defense sent the company a warning letter before filing a lawsuit, in which it was stated that "the Ministry of Defense intends to insist on payment of the full agreed compensation, according to its claim, in the amount of approximately NIS 30 million." The letter also stated that "without detracting from the above, the Ministry of Defense would be willing to enter into negotiations with the company, with the aim of eliminating the need for the legal process."
Aerodrome collects, analyzes, and processes information using drones to produce advanced digital insights based on artificial intelligence. The upcoming legal battle between the Ministry of Defense and Aerodrome, the listed company, stems from a large tender that the company won at the end of 2024, worth NIS 73 million. The company did not meet the terms of the tender, despite its commitment, and in March 2025 the Ministry of Defense determined that it was canceling its winning tender and even demanded compensation for the damage caused. Roy Degani, the company's founder, who until then served as CEO, resigned from his position shortly thereafter. For his part, the company, even after his departure, informed the Ministry of Defense that it did not intend to pay.
Aerodrome was founded in 2014 by Degani, an expert in the field of UAVs and aerial intelligence. In 2021, the company was floated on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, a move that contributed to expanding its operations to additional markets. Last year, Aerodrome underwent a facelift, and its ownership also changed. The new controlling interest includes former Mossad head Yossi Cohen and the owners of the Israel-Canada real estate group, Barak Rosen and Asaf Touchmair. The three are partners in a group in which the main investor is Ronen Elad, with 28.4%, through Elad Holdings. Aerodrome CEO Mishel Ben Baruch, who replaced Degani, resigned last May. Aerodrome's stock has risen by 337% this year, amid investor expectations that the new management and new ownership will benefit the company.
Aerodrome said: "These are the same claims and the same demand for compensation that were submitted to the company about six months ago, which were reflected in the company's reports. In parallel with the warning, the Ministry of Defense is offering the company to negotiate in order to eliminate the legal process, which apparently indicates that it does not believe in the size of the alleged debt and in moving the process to a legal track. Out of an interest in caution and transparency towards investors, the company has brought the issue to their attention now and in the past as part of the annual reports it has published."
