New Springfield facility will support long-endurance UAS training, testing and flight operations as Ondas expands its U.S. defense business
Ondas Inc. has opened a new unmanned aircraft training, testing and flight operations facility at the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence (NAAMCE) in Springfield, Ohio.
The facility will serve as the Midwest hub for Ondas Sentinel, the company’s U.S.-focused autonomous defense division. Ondas formed Sentinel following its acquisition of DZYNE Technologies in July.
The new site brings ground school, simulation, mission planning and live flight operations into one location. It will support operator training and missions for DZYNE’s ULTRA long-endurance UAS and the Stratollite stratospheric platform.
“Our presence here at NAAMCE gives us something few others can match: one integrated environment for training, testing, operator development, demonstration, and customer engagement,” said Matt McCue, Chief Technology Officer of Ondas Sentinel. “Ground school, simulation, mission planning, and live flight operations all happen in one place, in one pipeline. That accelerates training, it strengthens operational readiness, and it lets our partners see firsthand what low-cost long-endurance unmanned aircraft deliver.”
A Strategic Location for Long-Endurance UAS
NAAMCE is located at Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport. The center offers developers access to the National Airspace System for advanced flight testing, including BVLOS operations.
The location also puts Ondas Sentinel close to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. The 178th Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard operates nearby.
“Springfield is the right place for the missions we support,” McCue said. “The conditions here mirror what long-endurance homeland security and defense missions demand.”
“Being minutes from Wright-Patterson keeps us shoulder to shoulder with AFRL, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, and the Air Force organizations shaping what comes next. These are not arm’s length relationships.”
That connection is particularly relevant to ULTRA. The aircraft originated through an AFRL program and has accumulated tens of thousands of operational flight hours, according to Ondas. The company positions the platform for persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, as well as border security, maritime awareness and communications relay.
“ULTRA is the clearest example of cost-effective innovation,” McCue said. “It started as a rapid AFRL program. The Air Force invested early and took the risk on the concept. That investment is why this aircraft exists and is moving forward to potential production. That is a direct return.”
Regional support for the Springfield facility came from JobsOhio, Clark County and the Dayton Development Coalition. Ondas also identified Sinclair College, Wright State University and the University of Dayton as part of the regional talent pipeline.
Ondas Expands Its Defense Footprint
The Springfield opening comes during a period of rapid expansion for Ondas.
The company has emerged as a significant player in the autonomous defense sector through a combination of acquisitions and new defense orders. In July, Ondas completed its acquisition of DZYNE Technologies, adding long-endurance ISR, counter-UAS and autonomous effects capabilities. DZYNE and World View became part of the newly established Ondas Sentinel division.
Earlier this month, Ondas announced that its Mistral subsidiary had received an additional U.S. Army order worth more than $50 million for tactical Lethal Unmanned Systems. The order falls under a previously awarded $982 million multi-year IDIQ contract. Mistral’s awards under the program now exceed $240 million, according to the company.
Ondas also announced this week that it has entered an agreement to acquire Aran Defense, an Israeli engineering and manufacturing operation. The proposed acquisition would expand Ondas’ manufacturing, integration and production capacity in Israel. The company expects the transaction to close during the third quarter of 2026.
The broader expansion has been reflected in Ondas’ recent financial results. The company reported $83.8 million in second-quarter revenue and approximately $175 million in new orders during the quarter. Including recently acquired businesses, Ondas reported pro forma backlog of approximately $757 million.
The new Springfield operation adds training, flight operations and customer demonstrations to that expanding infrastructure. It also gives Ondas Sentinel a dedicated location for developing operators around its long-endurance platforms.
“This ribbon cutting is not the end of a project, it’s the start of a capability,” McCue said. “And we’re just getting started.”
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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