The next wave of AI investing isn't coming for your office — it's coming for the battlefield. XTEND, an autonomous defense robotics firm, plans to list on the Nasdaq through a $1.5 billion merger with JFB Construction Holdings (NASDAQ:JFB). Eric Trump is among the investors backing the deal.
The combined company is expected to trade under the ticker XTND. Once listed, XTND would provide investors with exposure to another fast-growing vertical of AI: autonomous defense systems.
Defense AI Is Emerging As Wall Street's Next Big Trade
XTEND's core asset is its proprietary XOS operating system. XOS allows drones and robotic systems to execute complex missions across air, ground, and maritime environments.
The platform enables remote operations, keeping human operators out of harm's way — a capability becoming increasingly critical as global security risks intensify.
The merger provides more than just capital. It gives XTEND access to U.S.-based production infrastructure, with manufacturing anchored in Tampa, Florida. This positions the company to expand domestic, NDAA-compliant production as demand rises from the U.S. and allied nations.
Strategic Investors Signal Growing Confidence In Autonomous Systems
Strategic backing includes Eric Trump and Unusual Machines, Inc (NYSE:UMAC), alongside several private investment firms. The deal also includes $152 million in committed capital, reinforcing investor confidence in autonomous defense as a long-term growth market.
XTEND shareholders expect to control roughly 70% of the combined company after the merger closes later this year.
As AI moves beyond software into real-world autonomy, defense robotics is emerging as one of its most consequential frontiers. What remains to be sees is whether Wall Street considers it as one of the most ‘investable’ frontiers.
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