Ondas Launches UAS Training and Operations Center at Ohio’s NAAMCE
Ondas Inc. Opens New UAS Facility in Springfield, Ohio
Ondas Inc. has inaugurated a new unmanned aircraft training, testing, and flight operations facility at the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence (NAAMCE) in Springfield, Ohio. This facility will function as the Midwest hub for Ondas Sentinel, the company’s U.S.-focused autonomous defense division, which was established following the acquisition of DZYNE Technologies in July.
Facility Features and Capabilities
The new site consolidates ground school, simulation, mission planning, and live flight operations into a single location. It is designed to support operator training and missions for DZYNE’s ULTRA long-endurance unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and the Stratollite stratospheric platform.
Matt McCue, Chief Technology Officer of Ondas Sentinel, emphasized the advantages of the integrated environment, stating, “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 situated at Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport, providing developers access to the National Airspace System for advanced flight testing, including beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations. The facility’s proximity to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center enhances its strategic importance. Additionally, the 178th Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard operates nearby.
McCue noted, “Springfield is the right place for the missions we support. The conditions here mirror what long-endurance homeland security and defense missions demand.” He also highlighted the significance of being close to key Air Force organizations, stating, “These are not arm’s length relationships.”
The ULTRA aircraft, which originated from an AFRL program, has accumulated tens of thousands of operational flight hours and is positioned for various missions, including intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, border security, maritime awareness, and communications relay.
Expansion of Ondas’ Defense Operations
The opening of the Springfield facility coincides with a period of rapid growth for Ondas. The company has established itself as a key player in the autonomous defense sector through acquisitions and new defense contracts. In July, Ondas completed its acquisition of DZYNE Technologies, enhancing its capabilities in long-endurance ISR, counter-UAS, and autonomous effects. DZYNE and World View are now part of the newly formed Ondas Sentinel division.
Earlier this month, Ondas announced that its Mistral subsidiary received an additional U.S. Army order exceeding $50 million for tactical Lethal Unmanned Systems, part of a previously awarded $982 million multi-year IDIQ contract. Mistral’s total awards under this program now surpass $240 million.
Additionally, Ondas has entered into an agreement to acquire Aran Defense, an Israeli engineering and manufacturing operation, which is expected to enhance Ondas’ manufacturing, integration, and production capabilities in Israel. The transaction is anticipated to close during the third quarter of 2026.
Ondas’ recent financial results reflect this expansion, with the company reporting $83.8 million in second-quarter revenue and approximately $175 million in new orders during the same period. Including recently acquired businesses, Ondas reported a pro forma backlog of approximately $757 million.
The new Springfield operation will contribute to the company’s expanding infrastructure by adding training, flight operations, and customer demonstrations, providing Ondas Sentinel with a dedicated location for developing operators for its long-endurance platforms.
McCue concluded, “This ribbon cutting is not the end of a project, it’s the start of a capability. And we’re just getting started.”