41. Xtend – Israel
Xtend is an Israeli company that has rapidly become a significant player in the defense technology sector, specializing in advanced autonomous drone systems with a strong emphasis on human-guided AI.
Founded in 2018, Xtend initially focused on drone racing and intuitive control systems, leveraging this expertise to pivot towards military applications.
Its unique approach aims to empower operators with sophisticated drone capabilities, even those with no prior flight experience, by utilizing virtual reality interfaces, hand gestures, and AI-driven autonomy. This allows for precise control and rapid deployment in complex and often dangerous environments.
Xtend’s defense drone offerings include a range of tactical unmanned aerial systems designed for diverse mission profiles.
Its products are particularly known for their effectiveness in urban warfare and indoor operations, such as the XTENDER, a micro-tactical indoor ISR system.
It also provides outdoor precision strike and reconnaissance drones like the Scorpio 500 and Scorpio 1000, capable of carrying various payloads for combat or surveillance.
Furthermore, Xtend has developed counter-UAS solutions, notably the SKYLORD GRIFFON, a hard-kill interceptor drone designed to kinetically neutralize hostile small UAVs at high speeds.
Xtend’s systems are battle-proven, with contracts from the US Department of Defense and active use by the Israeli Defense Forces, demonstrating their capabilities in contested and GPS-denied environments.
