XTEND, an autonomous defense robotics company, is entering the public markets through a merger with special purpose acquisition company JFB Construction Holdings, valuing the combined entity at $1.5 billion. The transaction, which will result in the company trading on Nasdaq under the ticker XTND, has secured $152 million in committed capital from backers including Eric Trump and Unusual Machines Inc. The deal positions XTEND to accelerate commercialization of its proprietary XOS operating system technology, which powers autonomous drone and robotic systems for defense applications.
The combined company will maintain manufacturing operations in Tampa, Florida, while leveraging its technology platform to address growing demand in the autonomous defense sector. XTEND's XOS operating system represents a critical differentiator in a market increasingly focused on unmanned systems capabilities. The merger provides the company with capital and public market access to scale production and expand its customer base within government and defense sectors.
The transaction reflects broader industry trends toward autonomous systems adoption in defense and infrastructure applications. With the merger expected to close in the coming months, XTEND will join a growing cohort of robotics and autonomous technology firms accessing capital markets to fund growth initiatives in an expanding sector.