Israel’s XTEND to Supply US With Attack Drone Kits
The US Department of Defense has awarded Israeli unmanned aerial systems (UAS) company XTEND a contract to develop and supply Affordable Close Quarter Modular Effects Drone Kits (ACQME-DK).
The “multi-million-dollar” deal, awarded through the Pentagon’s Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict office, orders components to support small tactical units in urban and confined environments, giving troops the ability to carry out precision strikes while staying out of direct danger.
The Tel Aviv-based defense firm will handle production, training, and maintenance from its American site in Tampa, Florida, to ensure a domestic supply line.
Enhanced Swarming, Safer Operations
XTEND’s ACQME-DK kits feature a modular design that lets soldiers reconfigure UAS for different missions, from reconnaissance to one-way attack roles.
The suites are equipped with XTEND’s high-voltage Electronic Safe and Arm Device, which ensures weapons can only be armed under authorized conditions.
Each system uses a dual-communication setup integrating enhanced fiber-optic and radio links, allowing operators to control multiple drones at once without signal delay or interference and navigate them through tight spaces and respond quickly in the field.
Smarter Battlefield Control
At the deal’s announcement, XTEND showcased its proprietary operating system, XOS, which connects sensors, radars, payloads, and third-party tools under one digital mission network.
The company said the technology, which powers its drone portfolio, reflects a broader shift in warfare toward affordable, autonomous systems that combine human decision-making with machine precision for faster, safer operations in high-risk zones.
“This is the first operational system in the world that allows one operator to command and deploy swarms of AI enabled tactical drones remotely, with resilient Fiber Optic-plus-RF dual-comms precision and zero-latency control,” said Aviv Shapira, CEO and co-founder of XTEND.
“It is a battle-proven system, lessons learned and applied, that gives war fighters reach and unparalleled tactical overmatch.”
