Protection of critical infrastructure: Taylor Wessing advises Ondas on the establishment of the drone defence joint venture ONBERG Autonomous Systems

Led by Berlin-based partner Marc-Oliver Kurth, LL.M., Taylor Wessing has provided comprehensive legal advice to the US-Israeli drone technology provider Ondas on the establishment of a drone defence joint venture with Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG and its subsidiary HD Advanced Technologies. The resulting company, ONBERG Autonomous Systems, will develop autonomous systems to protect critical infrastructure in Europe. Ondas is one of the world’s leading providers of autonomous aerial and ground robot systems. Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG is a world-leading manufacturer of precision machinery.

The joint venture is the result of a long-term strategy to establish a European one-stop shop for autonomous drone defence systems, combining battle-tested technologies from the Ondas group companies with German industrial expertise and precision engineering.

ONBERG is set to become a European hub for autonomous drone defence systems that protect critical infrastructure, borders and national security facilities. The joint venture will combine OAS’s battle-tested counter-UAS, ISR and autonomous security technologies with Heidelberg’s 175 years of German engineering expertise, scalable industrial manufacturing capabilities and an established European production infrastructure, including the expansion of the Brandenburg an der Havel site into a centre of excellence for autonomous defence systems. The drone defence and security systems produced in this way are initially intended for deployment in Germany and Ukraine.

About Ondas Inc. 

Ondas Inc. (Nasdaq: ONDS) is a leading provider of autonomous systems, robotics and mission-critical connectivity solutions for defence, security and industrial markets. Through its business units (Ondas Autonomous Systems, Ondas Capital and Ondas Networks), the company develops and implements integrated technologies that deliver advanced sensing, mobility and communication capabilities for complex operational environments.
Ondas Autonomous Systems (OAS) offers a portfolio of AI-enabled air and ground robot platforms, as well as technologies for countering UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems), which support missions worldwide in the fields of defence, internal security and critical infrastructure protection. OAS solutions include autonomous drone platforms, robotic ground systems, drone defence technologies, advanced propulsion and unmanned flight capabilities, autonomous engineering and mine clearance capabilities, and integrated sensor systems that enable continuous reconnaissance, surveillance, security and operational response. These platforms are deployed globally by armed forces, government agencies and commercial operators to protect sensitive sites, populations and strategic infrastructure.

Legal Adviser to Ondas

Taylor Wessing Germany: Marc-Oliver Kurth, LL.M. (Corporate/M&A) (lead), Dr Ralf Tietz, LL.M. (Corporate/M&A), Pascal Wrusch (Corporate/M&A), Felix Paul, LL.M. (Corporate/M&A), Dr Gregor Schmid, LL.M. (IP/IT), all Berlin, Henrik Grawe (Corporate/M&A), Frankfurt, Stephan Manuel Nagel, LL.M. (Competition Law/Regulatory) (Düsseldorf), Maren Coenen, LL.B. (Competition Law/Regulatory) (Düsseldorf), Lara Nonnenmühlen (Competition Law/Regulatory), Dr Michael Brüggemann (Foreign Trade Law/Regulatory), Malke Kristina Zimmermann (Foreign Trade Law/Regulatory) (all Düsseldorf)