RAFAEL enters unmanned aerial platform domain with acquisition of Aeronautics
September 3, 2019 - RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., developer and manufacturer of some of the world’s most groundbreaking technologies for air, land, naval, space and cyber applications, announces it has completed, with its partner, Mr. Avichai Stolero, the acquisition of Aeronautics Ltd., one of Israel’s leading developers of unmanned aerial systems. The deal is set to be finalized in the coming days.
Heading an industry group focused on unmanned solutions, systems and subsystems, Aeronautics Ltd. provides integrated turnkey solutions based on unmanned systems platforms, payloads and communications for defense and civil applications.
RAFAEL will hold 50% of Aeronautics, with partner Mr. Avichai Stolero, holding the other half. The move comes as part of RAFAEL’s long term strategy to evaluate and implement new areas of growth, including by M&A of unmanned platform companies.
Aeronautics will take part in some of RAFAEL’s innovation projects, with a vision to increase mutual growth, explore new markets, and provide end-to-end solutions in the low-tier aerial domain, relying on best practices, mutual expertise and capabilities, to create new synergies and solutions.
RAFAEL President and CEO, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Yoav Har-Even: We are proud and look forward to working with Aeronautics’ scientists and engineers who bring with them vast experience, knowhow and unique technologies, some of the world’s best. Connecting those with RAFAEL’s technological richness, proven systems, infrastructure and resources, financial robustness, and most importantly, our excellent human capital, is a force-multiplier, guaranteed to be of high technological and strategic value in helping us to reach our goals. I would also like to thank all the people involved in the process, as well as our partner, Mr. Avichai Stolero.
RAFAEL Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr. Uzi Landau: I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to the employees and management of RAFAEL and Aeronautics for their work and cooperation and for the successful completion of this acquisition process. I wish us all the best of luck with our new future endeavors and challenges.
About RAFAEL
Established in 1948, RAFAEL designs, develops, manufactures, supplies and supports a wide range of high-tech defense systems for air, land, sea and space applications for the Israeli Defense Forces and the defense establishment, as well as for customers around the world. The company offers its customers a diversified array of innovative solutions at the leading edge of global technology, from underwater systems through naval, ground, and air superiority systems to space and cyber systems. Rafael has 8000 employees and numerous subcontractors and service suppliers. RAFAEL is one of Israel’s three largest defense companies, with 2018 net profit of 133 million dollars, sales of 2.5 billion dollars, orders totaling 2.6 billion dollars and an order backlog of 6.7 billion dollars. Each year RAFAEL invests over 8% of in R&D.
About Aeronautics Ltd.
Heading an industry group focused on unmanned solutions, systems and subsystems, Aeronautics Ltd. provides integrated turnkey solutions based on unmanned systems platforms, payloads and communications for defense and civil applications. Designed as leading-edge UAS-based solutions, Aeronautics’ systems offer operationally proven solutions for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems requirements. As a pioneer in the field of unmanned aerial systems, Aeronautics broad product portfolio has demonstrated excellent performance and operability. Backed by continuous research and development, these systems are built on three decades of technological and operational experience.
