New facility strengthens America’s domestic drone production capacity while bringing high-tech jobs and investment to Florida
TAMPA, Fla., July 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — XTEND Reality Inc. (XTEND), a global leader in human-guided autonomous drone systems, officially debuted its new U.S. headquarters and production facility today in Tampa, Florida. The ribbon-cutting event brought together federal, state and local leaders, as well as military personnel, to celebrate a major milestone in advancing American drone capabilities and bolstering regional economic development.
The new facility will manufacture and integrate XTEND’s advanced drone systems to support critical U.S. defense missions. The opening comes as federal leaders intensify their push for domestically produced drone technologies that reduce foreign reliance and strengthen national security.
“We are not just building drones, we are building capabilities, resilience and trust,” said XTEND Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder Aviv Shapira. “This facility marks a new chapter for XTEND in the United States and reflects our commitment to delivering the most advanced, mission-ready systems to our customers. We’re proud to establish our U.S. headquarters in Tampa and grateful for the strong support from local, state and federal partners as we continue to scale our operations.”
XTEND was founded in 2018 by brothers Aviv and Matteo Shapira in partnership with Rubi Liani. Prior to establishing XTEND, the Shapira brothers co-founded Replay Technologies, which was acquired by Intel in 2016 for $175 million.
“Our systems are designed to give operators unprecedented control, safety and performance in the most demanding environments,” said XTEND CTO and Co-Founder Rubi Liani. “This new facility enables us to bring advanced engineering and innovation directly to the U.S. market, allowing for rapid integration, customization and deployment. It’s a critical step in our mission to redefine human-machine collaboration in defense and national security.”
“Establishing a U.S. headquarters and production facility is more than just a business expansion, it’s a commitment to building enduring partnerships that strengthen America’s defense innovation ecosystem,” said XTEND Vice President and U.S. General Manager Roy Levy. “This facility is not just about delivering cutting-edge systems, it’s about ensuring speed, reliability and integration at the pace of mission demand. XTEND is here to deliver solutions that work when it matters most.”
“This milestone represents the realization of XTEND’s vision to bring our groundbreaking technologies closer to the U.S. defense ecosystem,” said Dr. Peter Kash, XTEND Chairman of the Board. “With this facility, we’re laying the foundation for sustained growth, high-tech job creation and meaningful contributions to America’s security and industrial capabilities. I’m incredibly proud of the team that made this moment possible, amplifying the connectivity of Florida and the future of AI and Robotics.”
XTEND’s U.S. facility represents a major step in expanding U.S.-based production capacity and supporting the growing demand for advanced drone systems across the defense and public safety sectors. While focused on delivering Group 1 drones under contract for the U.S. Department of Defense, manufacturing will eventually expand to other critical drone components such as communication modules, motors and controllers to serve the country’s broader drone industry. The site is expected to generate dozens of new jobs over the coming years and further Florida’s role as a hub for aerospace and defense systems manufacturing.
About XTEND Reality Inc.
XTEND Reality Inc. is a pioneering defense technology company specializing in AI-assisted, human-guided drone systems designed to transform tactical operations across defense, public safety, and private security sectors. Our mission is to enhance remote operators’ combat impact with cost-effective, AI-assisted tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). At the core of our innovation is the patented XTEND Operating System (XOS), which seamlessly integrates human decision-making with machine autonomy. This platform empowers operators to conduct complex missions remotely with ease, controlling teams of multi-mission robots and enabling autonomous sub-tasks while retaining high-level decision-making in human hands. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel, XTEND has expanded its operations to the United States, with a significant presence in Florida. Our team comprises experts in aeronautics, flight algorithms, mechanical design, system architecture, UX/UI, and operations & integration, all dedicated to pioneering advancements in human-machine teaming. XTEND’s systems are battle-proven and operationally deployed worldwide, continuously evolving to meet the demands of modern warfare and public safety operations. By fusing cutting-edge technology with human intuition, XTEND is committed to delivering the future of tactical UAS control, ensuring mission success and operator safety.
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