BlueBird Aero Systems
Israeli maker of small tactical military drones and loitering munitions, founded in 2002 by a former military missile-development commander; half-owned by Israel Aerospace Industries since 2020
| BlueBird Aero Systems
| |
|---|---|
| Logo |  BlueBird Aero Systems logo |
| Type | Private company |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Founder(s) | Ronen Nadir |
| Headquarters | 4 Ha'Shita Street, Emek-Hefer Industrial Park 3877701, Israel |
| Industry | Unmanned aerial systems (defence industry) |
| Number of employees | 70 (2020, according to Ctech) |
| Homepage | bluebird-uav.com |
BlueBird Aero Systems is an Israeli company that makes small tactical drones and loitering munitions. It was founded in 2002, and in 2020 the state-owned arms company Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) bought half of it.[1] According to Agence France-Presse, its founder Ronen Nadir "was a military commander specializing in missile development before establishing his company", which "sells combat drones across the globe" (Israel Defense Forces).[2] The company says that it has supplied "Israeli forces" for close to two decades and that its products are "combat-proven solutions in operational use in Israel and worldwide".[3][4]
Founder and military links
In a 2019 AFP report on the Israeli drone industry, published by The Times of Israel, Guillaume Lavallée wrote that "The senior echelons of the country's industry are populated by former military and intelligence officials", and that "Ronen Nadir was a military commander specializing in missile development before establishing his company, BlueBird Aero Systems. It sells combat drones across the globe". Nadir told AFP: "In Israel all the people (in the industry) are ex-army soldiers, officers. The engineers who work on the development of the systems are actually operating the UAVs in the (military) reserves, in actual service. Then they come back to the office with actual and real-time feedback."[2]
Products
BlueBird's website lists the ThunderB and WanderB vertical-take-off drones, the SpyX "disposable electric Loitering Munition, designed for loitering & attack missions", and the BarB-x loitering drone. Its listed applications include artillery target acquisition, border monitoring, convoy and force protection, law enforcement and ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance).[4] Globes reported in 2020 that BlueBird "sells its products to Israeli security forces and to customers worldwide".[5]
Ownership
On 24 September 2020 IAI signed an agreement to buy 50% of BlueBird, acquiring the holding of the Indian company Piramal Technologies SA and further shares from Fiberless Access and Nadir, who kept the other 50% and stayed on as chief executive.[3] Accounts of the price differ: Ctech reported that IAI was paying NIS 50 million ($14.38 million), while Globes said that IAI had refused to disclose the terms and that the amount was estimated at close to NIS 100 million. Globes said that BlueBird employed several dozen people in the Kadima industrial zone near Netanya; Ctech put the workforce at 70 and said that BlueBird would operate as an independent unit under IAI's UAV division.[1][5]
See also
- Israel Aerospace Industries
- Cyber and tech firms founded by ex Unit 8200 or occupation forces veterans
External links
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Udi Etzion, IAI signs agreement to acquire 50% of BlueBird shares for $14.4 million Ctech, 24 September 2020, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Guillaume Lavallée (AFP), Flying high: Military prowess helps Israel become global force in drone industry The Times of Israel, 28 November 2019, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 BlueBird Aero Systems, BlueBird is soaring to new heights following IAI's acquisition of 50% of its shares BlueBird Aero Systems, 24 September 2020, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 BlueBird Aero Systems, UAS – Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems BlueBird Aero Systems, accessed 10 November 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Tal Schneider, IAI buys 50% of tactical drone co BlueBird Globes, 24 September 2020, accessed 10 November 2026.