American Robotics jobs in peril when Ondas integrates Aerobatics

Significant job losses are expected at leading autonomous drone inspection company American Robotics, as its Ondas Holdings owner prepares to integrate the activities of soon-to-be-acquired Israeli firm Airobotics.

Ondas said this week it expects to cut staffing at American Robotics as it ties up the final details in its purchase of Airobotics before the end of this month. An Ondas statement said the elimination of overlapping jobs involved in integrating the two companies would result in $18 million to $20 million in savings over operating them separately, and incur one-time costs of around $500,000 accounted against first quarter activity. 

Read: American Robotics owner Ondas finalizes Airobotics acquisition 

The announcement is not only a rare piece of bad news in a drone sector that has enjoyed robust business, income, and employment expansion in recent years. It also comes as a counterintuitive setback for American Robotics, which has been a…