Israeli AI Company XTEND Inks $11 Million Agreement with Indian Firm for Local UAV Production
In a significant move for the defence technology sector, XTEND, an Israel-based AI-powered robotics and software systems company, has announced a major partnership with Indian defence technology firm Rayonix Tech. The agreement, valued at $11 million, focuses on manufacturing and distributing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) locally in India, leveraging XTEND's advanced AI-enabled autonomy platform, XOS.
Details of the Manufacturing and Distribution Partnership
Under the terms of the deal, Rayonix Tech will establish comprehensive localised capabilities for manufacturing, testing, and distributing UAV systems. These systems will be powered by XTEND's proprietary XOS operating system, which serves as the software backbone for the UAVs. The partnership includes a technology transfer and operational enablement programme, ensuring that Rayonix can effectively produce and support these advanced systems within India.
Notably, XTEND is the same company that secured a contract last year to supply 5,000 assault drones to the Israeli army, highlighting its expertise in defence applications. The XOS platform enables human-guided autonomy across multi-domain robotic systems, integrating AI-driven features such as navigation, mission planning, and real-time operational control.
Strategic Expansion into the Indian Market
This agreement marks a strategic step for XTEND as it expands its software-defined autonomy ecosystem into one of the world's fastest-growing defence technology markets. By partnering with Rayonix as its exclusive manufacturing and distribution partner for selected platforms in India, XTEND aims to foster sovereign deployment under a unified software architecture.
Aviv Shapira, CEO and co-founder of XTEND, emphasized the importance of this move, stating, "India represents one of the fastest growing defence technology markets globally, with increasing demand for sovereign manufacturing and AI-enabled autonomous systems. Through this partnership, we are demonstrating our ability to enable sovereign manufacturing ecosystems while preserving the integrity of our software-first autonomy architecture." XTEND is currently in the process of merging with US-listed firm JFB Construction Holdings, further solidifying its global presence.
Supporting India's Make-in-India Vision
Amit Pande, Managing Director of Rayonix, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, noting its alignment with India's broader industrial goals. He said, "This partnership represents an important step towards bringing XTEND's battle-proven autonomous capabilities to India. Through localised manufacturing, Rayonix looks forward to enabling these technologies in India while contributing to the country's broader make-in-India vision for advanced defence capabilities."
The initiative is expected to boost India's domestic defence manufacturing sector, reducing reliance on imports and enhancing technological self-sufficiency. By integrating AI and robotics into UAV production, this partnership positions India at the forefront of innovation in autonomous defence systems, potentially leading to increased efficiency and security in military operations.
