XTEND Actuality Inc. has secured a major fixed-price contract from the U.S. Division of Conflict’s Workplace of the Assistant Secretary of Conflict for Particular Operations/Low-Depth Battle to develop and ship next-generation AI-enabled inexpensive shut quarter modular results FPV drone kits (ACQME-DK). Introduced on Veterans Day, the aggressive award acknowledges XTEND’s management in one-way assault (OWA) loitering munitions and validates the corporate’s revolutionary method to tactical drone methods. The contract positions XTEND to produce Division of Conflict small tactical groups with purpose-built deadly unmanned methods designed to boost precision strike functionality and operator survivability throughout irregular warfare operations in advanced city and confined rural environments.
AI-Enabled Tactical Drone Swarm Know-how
XTEND’s ACQME-DK represents a elementary shift in trendy warfighting doctrine, leveraging swarm-based autonomy to allow distributed, collaborative robotic methods performing advanced missions on the tactical edge. Not like conventional single-platform management methods, the AI-enabled drone kits ship precision lethality and survivability results deep inside contested battlespaces with out risking personnel or counting on weak beyond-line-of-sight communications hyperlinks.
The system’s core innovation lies in its capacity to permit a single operator to command and deploy swarms of AI-enabled tactical drones remotely, with fiber optic-plus-RF dual-comms resilience offering anti-jam, low-latency management to take care of mission continuity below heavy digital warfare. This dual-communication structure ensures operational resilience in contested electromagnetic environments, a important differentiator in trendy fight situations.
Function-Constructed Design and Value Effectiveness
The ACQME-DK is engineered as a modular, quickly reconfigurable platform able to swift area adaptation throughout a number of mission profiles. Operators can shortly transition between day/night time reconnaissance surveillance, reloadable reusable distraction units, deadly inert coaching payloads, and deadly assault configurations—all emphasizing the one-way assault function. This modularity reduces operational friction and allows excessive tactical tempo in keeping with warfighter necessities.
XTEND’s system design incorporates battle-proven elements and AI behaviors derived from area expertise throughout a number of theaters, optimized for repeatable effectiveness in contested environments. The corporate’s proprietary Digital Secure and Arm System (ESAD) high-voltage fuse security board represents a key technical differentiator, offering licensed security structure important for operational deployment. Critically, XTEND’s give attention to cost-effective one-way assault loitering munitions instantly aligns with Division of Conflict management directives emphasizing affordability and lethality per platform.
Home Manufacturing and Help
XTEND will ship coaching, spare components, upkeep, and manufacturing from its Tampa, Florida headquarters, establishing a devoted home supply of provide for superior tactical unmanned methods. “This program extends tactical benefit deeper into advanced terrain, scaling each precision and survivability by totally coordinated swarm conduct,” mentioned Rubi Liani, Co-Founder & CTO of XTEND. The contract award underscores rising navy prioritization of distributed autonomous methods able to sustained operations in denied environments.
ABOUT XTEND
XTEND is a world chief in battle-proven AI robotics, trusted by the U.S. Division of Conflict and the IDF. At its core is XOS – the XTEND working system – merging human intent with AI autonomy to show mission targets into coordinated robotic motion. With over 10,000 methods deployed throughout air, land, and sea in additional than 32 nations, XTEND’s platforms take away troopers from hurt’s approach whereas delivering zero-learning-time, multi-mission functionality. From shut quarters fight to coordinated swarm operations, XTEND’s drones execute advanced missions even with out GPS or communications. Scaled by its local-production mannequin, and a world manufacturing community spanning the U.S., Israel, Europe, and Singapore, XTEND is now increasing its confirmed protection applied sciences into non-public safety and significant infrastructure safety.
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Ian McNabb is a journalist specializing in drone expertise and life-style content material at Dronelife. He’s primarily based between Boston and NH and, when not writing, enjoys mountain climbing and Boston space sports activities.
