Ondas launches European counter‑drone JV

Ondas and Heidelberger Druckmaschinen have officially launched ONBERG, a Germany-based joint venture to build and deploy autonomous drone-defense systems in Europe. (ondas.com) The venture began operations on April 15, 2026, at Heidelberg’s site in Brandenburg an der Havel after the companies first disclosed the joint venture agreement on March 19. Ondas said the initial commercial focus is Germany and Ukraine, with broader European expansion planned later. (ondas.com) ONBERG pairs Ondas Autonomous Systems’ counter-unmanned aircraft and intelligence technology with Heidelberg’s manufacturing base and industrial supply chain in Germany. The companies said the Brandenburg site is being expanded into a production and development center for autonomous defense systems. (ondas.com) Counter-drone systems are built to detect, track and stop hostile or unauthorized aircraft, a market that has grown as cheap unmanned aircraft have become common around power plants, airports, borders and military sites. ONBERG said it is targeting critical infrastructure, public safety, border security and national security customers. (ondas.com) The European angle is central to the pitch. Heidelberg said ONBERG is meant to provide a “one-stop solution” built around European production and supply chains, as governments and infrastructure operators push for local sourcing in defense and security programs. (heidelberg.com) The launch event in Brandenburg included a live demonstration attended by Brandenburg Minister-President Dietmar Woidke, according to Heidelberg and Ondas. Heidelberg said the joint venture starts with drone-defense operations and could add adjacent autonomous security applications over time. (heidelberg.com) Ondas has been assembling a wider security portfolio around autonomous aircraft and airspace protection. Its investor materials describe Ondas Autonomous Systems as the home of American Robotics, Airobotics and Raider platforms, while its March 20 release said Sentrycs technology was used for airspace protection at the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos. (ondas.com ) (ondas.com) For Heidelberg, ONBERG extends a diversification push beyond printing equipment through its HD Advanced Technologies unit. The company said the Brandenburg operation gives the venture an existing industrial footprint as orders move from demonstrations to production. (heidelberg.com) The near-term test is whether ONBERG can turn that German factory base into contracts with infrastructure operators and government buyers. Wednesday’s launch moved the project from memorandum and joint-venture paperwork into an operating business with a named site, products and first target markets. (ondas.com)