Duke Robotics Appoints Defense Veteran Yiftach Kleinman as CEO Effective September 8
DUKR•Yiftach Kleinman will join Duke Robotics as CEO by September 8, 2026, succeeding Yossef Balucka, who will transition to President to drive the company’s commercial business and customer relationships. The move aligns with Duke Robotics’ recent uplisting to the Nasdaq Capital Market and defense market expansion.
1. Appointment Details
Duke Robotics announced that Yiftach Kleinman will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer no later than September 8, 2026, succeeding Yossef Balucka, who will remain President to focus on commercial growth and customer relationships.
2. CEO Background
Mr. Kleinman brings over two decades of leadership in defense and drone technology, having led SpearUAV through large-scale production, strategic OEM partnerships and its 2025 acquisition by UVision, and previously driving M&A and business development at Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
3. Strategic Implications
The leadership shift coincides with Duke Robotics’ recent uplisting to the Nasdaq Capital Market and marks a strategic push to expand the company’s defense offerings by leveraging Kleinman’s industry relationships and Balucka’s commercial expertise.
