XTEND and JFB strike $1.5B merger to form Nasdaq-listed defense robotics firm
What's the deal? Israeli defense technology company XTEND and JFB Construction HoldingsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → (Nasdaq: JFB) announced a $1.5 billion all-stock merger on July 27, 2026. The transaction creates XTEND AI RoboticsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, which will focus on AI-powered autonomous systems for defense, security, and public safety. The combined company is expected to trade on the Nasdaq under the ticker XTND.
The terms: XTEND shareholders will own about 70% of the combined company on a fully diluted basis, with JFB shareholders holding the remaining 30%, excluding future equity incentive plans. No cash consideration was disclosed. Completion is expected in mid-2026, pending regulatory approval and customary closing conditions.
Why now? The deal formalises a reverse merger structure the two companies first announced in February 2026. That earlier announcement was paired with a strategic investment round that included Eric TrumpDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
What's the endgame? XTEND co-founder and chief executive officer Aviv Shapira will lead XTEND AI Robotics. Its core product is the XTEND Operating System (XOS), which lets a single operator manage multiple air, ground, and maritime robotic systems from one interface. The platform combines human decision-making with edge AI to support missions in GPS-denied and contested environments.
XTEND's hardware line already includes the Scorpio 1000 multi-domain platform and the Wolverine, Griffon, and XTENDER small unmanned aircraft. US and Israeli forces field these systems in operational use, alongside allied units in Europe, Singapore, and the UK.
What changes? Both companies said the merger will accelerate US deployment of XTEND's systems and expand US-based manufacturing capacity. XTEND opened its US headquarters and manufacturing facility in Tampa, Florida, in July 2025. The public listing provides direct access to capital markets and aims to support sales to the US, NATO, and other partner nations.
The signal: The tie-up gives an Israeli defense startup a public listing and US operating base at a moment of rising demand for autonomous military systems. By routing through a reverse merger, XTEND reaches Nasdaq without a traditional IPO — positioning itself for NATO and allied procurement.
Read more: DroneLife
Image credit: Marion Doss
