Iran missile strike hits Israeli drone-maker

An Iranian ballistic missile strike late Thursday heavily damaged the production facility of Israeli drone manufacturer Aero-Sentinel, hitting just meters from the company’s site in Petach Tikva and disrupting part of its manufacturing operations.

In comments shared with Defence Blog, the company said the site was struck by an Iranian missile but stressed that the attack would not halt its work, adding that it is determined to restore operations quickly and expand production even further.

The facility was located only a short distance from the impact point of a 400-kilogram missile. Despite the damage, Aero-Sentinel said it is working to restore its capabilities as quickly as possible.

“For 21 years, our company has been developing advanced UAVs and aerial solutions for the defense industry and security forces, supporting critical operational missions and national security needs,” the company said in a statement provided to Defense & Tech by The Jerusalem Post.

“Despite the direct hit to the factory, the extraordinary resilience, professionalism, and determination of our team over the past 24 hours enabled the preservation of critical knowledge, capabilities, and core operational assets that will allow us to restore activity as quickly as possible.”

The strike hit a company known for producing covert intelligence-gathering drones used in tactical surveillance and other sensitive missions. Aero-Sentinel specializes in short- and medium-range unmanned aerial systems built for reconnaissance, border security, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations.

Those capabilities have become increasingly important in current military operations across the region, particularly in areas such as Lebanon and Iran, where persistent airborne surveillance and low-signature drone flights are in high demand.

Among its smaller systems are drones weighing about 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms) that can be assembled by operators in under five minutes. Once airborne, the aircraft can transmit live data to a mobile ground control station from distances of up to 3 miles (4.8 kilometers).

The company says some of its platforms can remain in the air for up to 90 minutes, giving units extended coverage during tactical missions. Its broader product line includes four ISR drone variants, with some models built for longer endurance and others capable of carrying payloads of up to 10 kilograms.

The damage to the Petach Tikva site is a direct blow to a defense manufacturer focused on systems that have become central to modern surveillance and operational planning. Facilities involved in drone production are increasingly treated as strategic targets during periods of regional escalation.

Even so, Aero-Sentinel’s statement suggests the company was able to preserve its technical expertise and core operational assets in the immediate aftermath of the strike.