Detroit Manufacturing Systems, via its advanced manufacturing operations, Kinetyc, in Wixom, has signed a letter of intent for a strategic partner with Ondas Holdings Inc. in Sparks, Md., a provider of private industrial wireless networks and commercial drone and automated data solutions.
Ondas Holdings and its Ondas Autonomous Systems operate a business unit subsidiary, American Robotics.
Under the agreement, DMS will serve as American Robotics’ contract manufacturer and supply chain manager for both U.S. and export markets to enhance American Robotics’ ability to scale production and deliver its FAA Type Certified autonomous drone platforms with greater speed, cost efficiency, and resiliency.
This announcement comes in concert with President Donald Trump’s recent Unleashing American Drone Dominance Executive Order designed to bolster U.S. leadership in drone innovation and industrial revitalization.
The Executive Order is expected to unlock major investment cycles in the domestic drone sector by supporting critical infrastructure protection, workforce development, and reshoring of advanced manufacturing.
The Ondas–DMS partnership, the companies state, aligns directly with these policy objectives by strengthening the American industrial base for dual-use autonomous systems.
“Our partnership with DMS marks a pivotal milestone in scaling our production capabilities and reinforces our commitment to building a secure, resilient, and sovereign industrial base for advanced drone technologies,” says Eric Brock, CEO and chairman of Ondas Holdings.
“This collaboration positions American Robotics to respond quickly to increasing demand from defense, homeland security, and critical infrastructure markets, and to do so with American-made systems.”
The partnership also is a key step in supporting American Robotics’ strategic focus on dual-use markets — systems that serve both civilian and government missions.
With growing demand from U.S. defense and homeland security agencies for autonomous drone capabilities, the collaboration with DMS enables American Robotics to meet mission-critical delivery timelines with U.S.-built platforms that comply with National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and Buy American standards.
The capabilities also are vital for civilian customers operating in public safety, energy, transportation, and other critical infrastructure sectors.
“American Robotics is uniquely positioned to lead the next wave of drone deployment in the United States and allied nations,” says Timothy Tenne, CEO of American Robotics. “By combining our industry-first FAA Type Certification, advanced Remote Operations Center capabilities, and now a robust domestic manufacturing partner in DMS, we’re accelerating our ability to support key government and commercial customers at scale.”
DMS is a leading American manufacturer with experience in delivering high-quality components and systems for applications including government and defense contracts. With facilities in Detroit and Wixom, DMS brings industrial scale in operations, quality, and supply chain management.
“We are excited to partner with American Robotics to support the rapid scale-up of its groundbreaking autonomous drone platforms,” says Bruce Smith, CEO of Detroit Manufacturing Systems.
“This collaboration reflects strong, growing demand across both commercial and defense markets for high-performance, American-made uncrewed systems. At DMS, via our advanced manufacturing operations at Kinetyc, we’re proud to bring our manufacturing excellence to bear in strengthening the U.S. defense industrial base and helping ensure the secure, reliable production of critical aerospace technologies.”
This partnership strengthens American Robotics’ manufacturing base as the FAA prepares to implement its Part 108 framework, which will enable expanded beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operations at scale.
Together, Ondas and DMS state they are working to ensure that the United States leads the world in autonomous drone manufacturing, deployment, and regulatory innovation.
For more information, visit dmsna.com or ondas.com.
