Ondas (ONDS) jumps on $10M defense orders as CEO discloses share sale

Ondas (ONDS) jumps on $10M defense orders as CEO discloses share sale

NEW YORK, January 1, 2026, 19:20 ET — Market closed.

  • Ondas shares closed up 8.6% on Dec. 31 after the company announced about $10 million in new autonomous systems orders.
  • The company said the orders span counter-drone, autonomous drone and robotic ground platforms, with an initial border-program purchase order expected in January.
  • A filing showed CEO Eric Brock sold 475,000 shares on Dec. 31, citing tax-related reasons tied to a prior exchange agreement.

Ondas Holdings Inc shares rose sharply in the final U.S. trading session of 2025 after the company said it secured about $10 million in new autonomous systems orders. The Nasdaq-listed stock closed up 8.6% at $9.76 on Wednesday and was last at $9.73 in after-hours trade.

U.S. stocks did not trade on Thursday due to the New Year’s Day holiday, setting up Friday’s session as the first regular trading day of 2026.

The new orders matter because Ondas is pitching its autonomous systems unit as a defense-and-security supplier, where contract wins can drive sentiment quickly. The company said the purchase orders add to momentum and come as it expects an initial purchase order in January for a large-scale border-protection program.

Ondas said the roughly $10 million in orders includes counter-UAS solutions, integrated autonomous drone systems and robotic ground platforms. Counter-UAS is technology designed to detect, track or defeat hostile drones.

“These new orders underscore the sustained, global demand we are seeing for autonomous air and ground systems,” Chairman and CEO Eric Brock said in a statement. Ondas Holdings Inc.

The company also pointed to earlier national-security wins, saying it booked $16.4 million of fourth-quarter orders tied to counter-UAS deployments at large European airports. It added that an initial purchase order is expected in January for a border-protection system that would deploy thousands of drones.

Investors also digested fresh insider-trading disclosures alongside the rally. A Form 4 filing showed Brock sold 475,000 shares at a weighted average price of about $9.71 on Dec. 31, saying the sale was to cover tax obligations tied to stock issued under an exchange agreement announced earlier in December.

Separate Form 144 notices — used to signal an intent to sell restricted or control shares under SEC Rule 144 — showed Brock proposed selling the same 475,000 shares, while director Ron Stern proposed selling 400,000 shares.

Ondas sells autonomous drones and counter-drone systems through its Ondas Autonomous Systems unit, putting it in parts of the defense technology market that also includes drone makers such as AeroVironment and Kratos.

Before the next session on Friday, traders will be watching for follow-on details on the January timing for the border-program purchase order referenced by the company, and for any additional contract updates. Ondas’ investor relations calendar showed no upcoming events scheduled as of Thursday.

Macro risk is also back in focus as 2026 gets underway. The Labor Department’s calendar shows the December U.S. employment report is scheduled for Jan. 9, followed by the December consumer price index on Jan. 13 — reports that can swing rate expectations and risk appetite.

Technically, Wednesday’s trade left clear near-term markers. Ondas hit an intraday high of $10.53 and a low of $9.17 before closing at $9.76, leaving the $10 level and Wednesday’s high as levels traders may test when liquidity returns.

After the holiday break, investors will also be watching whether the surge in activity holds: more than 156 million shares changed hands on Dec. 31, a heavy tape for the stock.

Khadija Saeed

Khadija Saeed is a financial markets reporter at TS2.tech, specializing in stocks, technology and emerging industries. She studied economics and finance at the London School of Economics and previously worked in market research before moving into financial journalism. Her coverage focuses on the companies, innovations and economic trends influencing global investors. Follow Khadija Saeed on Google News.

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