A Kansas-based drone manufacturer is strengthening its ties with Israel’s defense industry after meeting with more than a dozen Israeli firms over the past two years, a move the company says reflects both Israel’s technological edge and the rapidly evolving global security environment.
As EagleNXT pivots more aggressively toward the defense market, officials visited Israel and met with over a dozen companies specializing in unmanned systems, situational‑awareness platforms, and AI‑driven autonomy.
Bill Irby, CEO of EagleNXT, told Defense & Tech by The Jerusalem Post that Israel’s combination of advanced engineering, real‑world combat experience, and relentless work ethic makes it an ideal partner. “What we’ve always found with Israeli firms is a diligent work ethic and state‑of‑the‑art technology with immediate real‑world applications,” he said.
EagleNXT’s path to the defense sector began far from the battlefield.
“EagleNXT began in 2010 in Kansas by a farmer who saw the use of drones in precision farming. Three years ago, the company began to look into the defense market,” Irby told D&T, adding that the investment in Aerodrome supports the company’s long-term growth strategy in strategic markets, such as uncrewed technology.
Irby described the platform as “highly relevant” given current regional tensions and the growing global reliance on unmanned systems.
The Russia-Ukraine War has had a profound impact on the company’s trajectory. The conflict has demonstrated the decisive role drones play in modern warfare and has pushed the US government to accelerate its adoption of new unmanned technologies.
“Ukraine has had a huge impact on US drone policy,” Irby said. “The government is pushing for much faster tech introduction and turnaround.”
Irby spoke to D&T after the company announced a strategic investment in Israel’s Aerodrome, which designs, develops, and produces loitering munitions (suicide drones) for military and civilian use, together with AI-driven data gathering, analysis, and processing by means of UAVs.
“Aerodrome Group’s advanced work in autonomous loitering munitions is helping shape the reality of modern UAS tactics and precision operations,” Irby said. “This strategic investment shows our commitment to expanding access to transformative technologies that enhance security and operational effectiveness for our defense forces.”
The investment in Aerodrome will include a joint venture in the United States that will provide the country with autonomous precision capabilities in loitering munitions. It will also allow the companies to develop platforms for defense customers operating under Department of War procurement requirements.
“In line with both its mission – Protects What Matters Most: lives, land, and the pursuit of peace – and its strategy to accelerate advanced uncrewed systems and technologies, EagleNXT has executed a strategic investment in Aerodrome,“ read a statement by the company.
“The investment boosts EagleNXT’s capabilities in autonomy and precision strike. This move strengthens EagleNXT’s position in cutting-edge autonomous defense technologies while fostering international collaboration.”
Hard times?
The Israeli company nevertheless hit hard times, and its shares plummeted last year when it was reported that Israel’s Defense Ministry had reduced an order originally worth NIS 73.6 million, and it later became known that the company had delayed reporting the matter.
Last week, Calcalitech reported that former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen and real estate entrepreneurs Barak Rosen and Assi Touchmair, co-owners of the Israel Canada Group, are expected to join the company.
That announcement led to a rise of 8.5% in Aerodrome shares on Friday.