XTEND's AI War Chest: Patents & Deals Pave Way for NYSE Debut

TAMPA, FL & PALM BEACH, FL – June 23, 2026 – In a move that underscores the surging demand for AI-powered military technology, autonomous robotics leader XTEND has secured a new $9.0 million defense program in the Middle East. The deal, which expands autonomous multi-drone operations for an existing defense customer, was announced alongside the granting of new U.S. and Israeli patents, fortifying the company's technological dominance in contested environments. These developments represent the latest in a string of high-profile wins for the firm as it navigates a definitive merger with JFB Construction Holdings, paving its way for a public listing on a U.S. national exchange.

At the heart of the new contract is XTEND’s XOS operating system, a sophisticated software platform that enables a single operator to manage entire fleets of robotic systems. “We built XOS to solve the hardest problems operators face in the field,” said Aviv Shapira, Co-Founder and CEO of XTEND. “Our customers are not buying drones, they are deploying an autonomous operational network built on our software. That is the future of autonomous defense, and XTEND is delivering it today.”

From Construction to Combat Robotics: The Road to the NYSE

The series of operational successes comes as XTEND prepares for a significant corporate transformation. The company is in the final stages of a merger with JFB Construction Holdings (Nasdaq: JFB), a real estate development company, in an all-stock transaction that values XTEND at an implied $1.5 billion. The deal, expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, will see the combined entity renamed XTEND AI Robotics and listed under the ticker symbol “XTND.”

The unconventional pairing of a robotics innovator with a construction firm is a strategic play to accelerate XTEND’s U.S. presence and manufacturing scale. For JFB, it represents a dramatic pivot from real estate to the high-growth, high-stakes world of defense technology. According to company filings, the merger is supported by a slate of strategic investors, including Eric Trump, Unusual Machines, and Aliya Capital, signaling confidence in XTEND's market potential.

“Since announcing our combination with JFB, we have won contracts on four continents, achieved critical regulatory milestones, expanded our manufacturing footprint, advanced our IP portfolio, and been selected for a prestigious U.S. defense drone programs,” Shapira noted, framing the upcoming listing not as a bet on potential, but as a validation of proven action.

Meeting Surging Demand in a Volatile World

XTEND’s $9.0 million Middle East contract is not an isolated event but a clear indicator of a massive regional trend. The market for autonomous aerial robots in the Middle East is projected to skyrocket from an estimated $487 million in 2025 to over $1.5 billion by 2035. This explosive growth is fueled by a volatile security landscape where the lessons of modern conflicts have highlighted the critical need for advanced unmanned systems.

Regional powers are rapidly investing in technologies that can counter threats from low-cost drones and provide superior surveillance and reconnaissance. XTEND's ability to provide a multi-system, AI-driven orchestration layer directly addresses this demand for scalable, resilient, and intelligent defense solutions. The company's recent wins in the region, including a $2.2 million contract for autonomous aerial defense systems in May, position it as a key supplier in one of the world's most active defense markets.

A Patent Fortress for Contested Environments

While contracts demonstrate market traction, XTEND's expanding patent portfolio reveals its long-term competitive strategy. The company recently announced two new grants, U.S. Patent No. 12,222,735 and its Israeli counterpart, which protect a system for directing an unmanned vehicle to a user-marked target, even when GPS is unavailable and the surrounding environment changes.

These are coupled with a patent secured earlier in June, U.S. Patent No. 12,461,522, which covers the ability to maintain precise UAV control even when communication signals are weak or delayed. In modern warfare, where adversaries actively jam GPS and communications, these capabilities are not just features—they are mission-critical requirements. They form a technological 'moat' that protects XTEND's systems from being easily replicated.

“Every patent in this portfolio was earned in the field,” Shapira stated. “These are not theoretical inventions, they are the technologies our operators depend on when the environment is working against them. We have spent years solving these problems, our systems have proven them in combat, and now we own the IP.”

The 'Human-Guided' Future of Warfare

Underpinning XTEND's hardware and patents is its core philosophy of 'human-guided autonomy.' Through the XOS platform, the company is pioneering a model where AI handles the complex cognitive and motor subtasks of flight, navigation, and targeting, while human operators retain ultimate strategic control and decision-making authority. This 'human-on-the-loop' approach is designed to enhance a soldier's capabilities, not replace them, allowing one person to effectively manage a swarm of robotic assets across air and ground domains.

This model also strategically navigates the complex ethical debates surrounding lethal autonomous weapons. By ensuring a human always makes the critical final decision, XTEND provides a powerful capability that aligns with the ethical doctrines of Western militaries. It's a vision of the future where technology creates 'super-empowered' operators who can project force and gather intelligence with unprecedented scale and safety.

The power of this approach is being recognized at the highest levels. In a flurry of activity since February, XTEND has received U.S. Army Fuze Safety Board approval for a key drone component, secured an $8.25 million order from a European nation, launched a sovereign UK manufacturing facility, and was selected for Phase II of the U.S. Department of Defense’s highly competitive Drone Dominance Program. With systems already deployed in over 30 countries and validated in five combat zones, XTEND is marching toward the public market not with a blueprint, but with a battle-tested record.