Aeronautics Ltd
An Israeli start-up with a tiny avionics system grew into the maker of the Orbiter and Aerostar drones, then had an export permit suspended over a reported demonstration strike on Armenian troops.
Aeronautics Ltd: the company and the aircraft that made its name
The smallest avionics in the world
Aeronautics began in 1997 as NETS Integrated Avionics Systems, a start-up founded by Zvika Nave, Moshe Caspi and Avi Leumi to build cheap, miniature unmanned aircraft. In 2000 it introduced what it called the world’s smallest avionics system, which grew into the Orbiter mini-UAV, a backpack drone launched from a small catapult and landed by parachute and airbag. In 2004 it launched Seastar, one of the first unmanned surface vessels, and bought the Italian UAV engine maker Zanzottera. In 2006 it signed a 250 million dollar deal to supply drones and unmanned boats to protect Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta.
Orbiter, Aerostar, Dominator
Its range spread upward. The Aerostar tactical UAV, introduced in 2001, had flown 130,000 operational hours for some 15 customers by November 2013, including oil-rig protection off Angola and leasing programmes in Afghanistan. The Dominator, a twin-engined MALE drone of 2011 based on the Diamond DA42, can stay up for 24 hours. In 2012 Finland ordered 55 unmanned systems. Investors included 888 founder Avi Shaked, who bought a third of the company in 2007, and Viola, which invested at a valuation of 200 million dollars in 2009.
The Karabakh demonstration
Then came scandal. In July 2017, according to Armenian officials, an Orbiter 1K loitering munition struck Armenian positions in Nagorno-Karabakh, wounding two soldiers, after Aeronautics representatives reportedly demonstrated it live at the request of the Azerbaijani military. On 29 August 2017 Israel’s defence export agency suspended the Orbiter 1K export permit for Azerbaijan, and on 30 December 2021 the company and three senior employees were charged with violating Israel’s defence export law. By then Aeronautics had been bought, on 2 September 2019, by Rafael and the businessman Avihai Stolero.
Aeronautics Ltd in numbers
La empresa
- En breve
- Founded 1997
- Founded as NETS Integrated Avionics Systems by Zvika Nave, Moshe Caspi and Avi Leumi
- Headquartered in Yavne
- Acquired by Rafael and Avihai Stolero on 2 September 2019
Producción
- Más conocido por
- Orbiter, Aerostar, Dominator
- Orbiter Mini: some 20 military, security and civil customers
- Orbiter 3: six international military customers
- Aerostar: 130,000 operational hours by November 2013
- Skystar aerostats and Seastar unmanned boats
Hoy
- Ahora
- Part of the Rafael group
- Subsidiaries include Commtact, Zanzottera and a 50% share of Controp
- Charged in 2021 over defence-export violations
Los números
- Nigeria contract
- 250 million US dollars2006
- Finnish order
- 55 unmanned systems2012
- Valuation (Viola investment)
- 200 million US dollars2009
- Aerostar operational hours
- 130,0002013
Every notable Aeronautics Ltd aircraft
Photos: Photo (Aerostar in civil markings shown): Adrian Pingstone (Arpingstone) / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
| Aeronave | Role | Primer vuelo | Construido | Estado | Nota |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aeronáutica Aerostar | UAV táctico | En servicio | 230 kg; 12-hour endurance; some 15 customers | ||
| Aeronautics Orbiter Mini | Backpack mini-UAV | En servicio | Electric, up to 10 kg, 4 hours; parachute and airbag recovery | ||
| Aeronautics Orbiter 3 | Small tactical UAV | En servicio | Up to 30 kg, 7 hours | ||
| Aeronautics Orbiter 1K | Munición merodeadora | En servicio | Azerbaijan export permit suspended 2017 | ||
| Aeronautics Dominator | MALE UAV based on the Diamond DA42 | En servicio | 1,800 kg MTOW, 24-hour endurance |
Aeronautics Ltd aircraft in the world’s air forces
2 air forces in the Order of Battle fly or flew Aeronautics Ltd types. 2 of them still have one in service.
| Fuerzas aéreas | En servicio | Anteriormente volado |
|---|---|---|
| Comando Aéreo de Chipre | Aeronáutica Aerostar | |
| División Aérea Naval Real Tailandesa | Orbitador Aeronáutico 3B |
Where Aeronautics Ltd built, who led it, what it achieved
Fábricas
- Yavne headquarters · Yavne, Israel
Gente
- Amos Mathan · CEO — Former CEO of Soltam Systems
- Yedidia Yaari · chairman — Former Israeli Navy commander and Rafael president
Récords y primicias
- World’s smallest avionics system, introduced 2000, according to the company
- Seastar (2004): one of the first unmanned surface vessels
Aeronautics Ltd, year by year
Founded as NETS Integrated Avionics Systems
Miniature avionics system that became the Orbiter
Aerostar introduced
Seastar launched; Zanzottera acquired
250 million dollar Nigeria contract
Avi Shaked buys 33 per cent
Dominator introduced
Finland orders 55 systems; Controp acquired
Orbiter 1K export permit for Azerbaijan suspended
Acquired by Rafael and Avihai Stolero
Company and three employees charged over export violations
Everything people ask about Aeronautics Ltd
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What is the Orbiter drone?
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Around Aeronautics Ltd
Todos los datos, verificados
Verificado el 3 de octubre de 2026.