The US Department of Defense has entered into a significant contract with Israeli unmanned aerial systems company XTEND Reality Inc. to develop and supply Affordable Close Quarter Modular Effects Drone Kits (ACQME-DK). This multi-million-dollar deal, secured through the Pentagon’s Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict office, aims to enhance the capabilities of small tactical units operating in urban and confined environments.
The new drone kits are designed to enable troops to conduct precision strikes while minimizing their exposure to direct danger. The Tel Aviv-based firm will manage the production, training, and maintenance of these systems from its site in Tampa, Florida, ensuring a reliable domestic supply chain.
The ACQME-DK kits are characterized by a modular design, allowing soldiers to reconfigure the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for a variety of missions, ranging from reconnaissance to one-way attack scenarios. Each kit includes XTEND’s high-voltage Electronic Safe and Arm Device, which guarantees that weapon systems can only be activated under authorized conditions.
A dual-communication setup featuring enhanced fiber-optic and radio links facilitates the control of multiple drones simultaneously, ensuring quick navigation through tight spaces without any signal delays or interference. This swift response capability is crucial for operations in challenging environments.
During the announcement of this contract, XTEND also introduced its proprietary operating system, XOS. This technology consolidates various elements such as sensors, radars, payloads, and third-party tools into a unified digital mission network. XTEND emphasized that this advancement aligns with a broader trend in modern warfare toward affordable, autonomous systems. These systems blend human decision-making with machine precision, ultimately leading to faster and safer operations in high-risk areas.
Aviv Shapira, CEO and co-founder of XTEND, highlighted the groundbreaking nature of the ACQME-DK kits: “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.” He further noted that the system has been battle-tested, implementing lessons learned to provide warfighters with enhanced reach and tactical advantages on the battlefield.
