Commcrete Raises $29 Million, Setting a New Standard for Tactical Satellite Communications

Israeli company Commcrete, founded in 2022 by three former members of Israel’s elite Unit 81, announced it has raised $29 million to advance its tactical satellite communications systems. The Series A round of $21 million was led by Greenfield Partners with participation from Redseed Ventures and existing investors, following an $8 million seed round backed by Prof. Amnon Shashua and Q Fund. The company, which employs around 40 people in Israel and the U.S., plans to use the funds to expand globally across Europe, North America, the Far East, and Australia—while also growing its R&D center in Israel.

Commcrete operates in the SATCOM-on-the-Move sector, a critical communications field for defense forces, special units, and emergency responders. Until now, the space has relied heavily on bulky, slow-to-deploy systems with large antennas—often failing precisely when the battlefield or disaster zone becomes most dynamic. The founders experienced these shortcomings firsthand during operational service, when losing communication at a critical moment posed a real threat to lives. That experience drove them to rethink satellite connectivity, creating lightweight, mobile, and compact solutions that deliver global coverage and operational continuity even in extreme conditions.

At the core of Commcrete’s technology lies a simple principle: bridging the familiar immediacy of handheld radios with the global reach and reliability of satellites. Each of its products embodies this approach in a different form—adapting existing radios, building standalone stations, or delivering ultra-portable personal devices.

The first is the Flipper TS series, a small module that attaches to any standard push-to-talk radio and instantly transforms it into a satellite unit. For the user, nothing changes: the PTT radio works exactly as before—except when ground coverage ends, Flipper seamlessly lifts the call onto a satellite channel. Available in handheld versions weighing just 150 grams, as well as vehicular, maritime, and aerial models, Flipper units are designed for extreme temperature ranges and ultra-low power consumption. For soldiers, firefighters, or infrastructure workers, the result is simple: familiar gear with suddenly global reach.

The second, Stardust SD, is a fully standalone communication hub. Inside one compact device are all SATCOM essentials: antenna, GPS, voice, text, file transfer, and distress signaling. A custom chip developed by Commcrete allows all these functions to run simultaneously over a single satellite channel. Connected to C4I systems such as ATAK, Stardust becomes a central battlefield or rescue tool—mapping force locations in real time and maintaining continuous control even when conventional systems collapse.

Finally, the Bittel brings satellite connectivity down to the individual level. This pocket-sized device, weighing just a few hundred grams, enables short push-to-talk calls, text messaging, location sharing, and SOS alerts at the press of a button. Independent of any radio, and optionally paired with a smartphone via Bluetooth, Bittel offers lone travelers, truck drivers, or isolated soldiers a secure, simple link to the world—even off the grid.

Commcrete’s vision is clear: to make tactical satellite communications light, fast, and accessible to every user—from militaries and special forces to first responders, infrastructure operators, and adventurers in remote regions. With the global SATCOM market expected to reach the hundreds of billions in the coming years, the company is positioning itself as a unique player capable of ensuring continuous connectivity, anytime, anywhere, for any mission.

[Pictured above: Commcrete’s founders]

Israeli Satellite “Dror 1” Successfully Launched into Space

[Photo above: Dror 1 in the testing facility. Credit: Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)]

Israel’s communications satellite Dror 1 was successfully launched into space earlier this week (Sunday) from Cape Canaveral, USA, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The satellite will operate in a geosynchronous orbit above the equator at an altitude of 36,000 kilometers (22,300 miles) above Earth.

Dror 1 was developed by the Missile and Space Systems Division of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the same division responsible over the years for developing the AMOS family of communications satellites, Barak 8, Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 missile defense systems, reconnaissance and spy satellites, and more. The satellite was originally intended to be named “AMOS 8,” but following the cancellation of an operational agreement with the company Spacecom, its name was changed.

Dror 1 is the first of approximately ten planned Dror satellites, forming part of Israel’s national strategy for independent satellite communications. The satellite weighs 4.5 tons, has a 17.8-meter wingspan (solar panels), and carries a pair of 2.8-meter antennas – the largest communication antennas ever built for an Israeli satellite. Dror 1 is designed to operate for 15 years, providing continuous communications coverage across the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. It will be stationed at the 4°W orbital slot, alongside AMOS 3.

The fully digital satellite is equipped with a payload of 48 Ku-band transponders and two Ka-band transponders. As part of the project, the Israel Space Agency funded the development of a new communications satellite computer with a budget of ₪29.5 million (approx. $8 million USD).

This launch marks a major milestone for Israel’s space industry, which suffered a severe setback in September 2016 when the AMOS 6 satellite was completely destroyed in a launch pad explosion at Cape Canaveral. In response, Israel’s Ministry of Science initiated a review of the country’s civil space program. One of the central recommendations was the urgent need to develop a new Israeli-built communications satellite to ensure the country’s emergency and civilian communications resilience.

The recommendation was approved by the Israeli government in 2018, and a development agreement with IAI was signed in 2020.