New facility strengthens America's domestic drone production capacity while bringing high-tech jobs and investment to Florida
TAMPA, Fla., July 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- XTEND Reality Inc. (XTEND), a global leader in human-guided autonomous drone systems, officially debuted its new U.S. headquarters and production facility today in Tampa, Florida. The ribbon-cutting event brought together federal, state and local leaders, as well as military personnel, to celebrate a major milestone in advancing American drone capabilities and bolstering regional economic development.
Click to Gallery
XTEND Reality Inc. Debuts New U.S. Headquarters and Drone Production Facility in Tampa, Driving Innovation and National Security
XTEND Reality Inc. Debuts New U.S. Headquarters and Drone Production Facility in Tampa, Driving Innovation and National Security
XTEND Reality Inc. Debuts New U.S. Headquarters and Drone Production Facility in Tampa, Driving Innovation and National Security
XTEND Reality Inc. Debuts New U.S. Headquarters and Drone Production Facility in Tampa, Driving Innovation and National Security
XTEND Reality Inc. Debuts New U.S. Headquarters and Drone Production Facility in Tampa, Driving Innovation and National Security
XTEND Reality Inc. Debuts New U.S. Headquarters and Drone Production Facility in Tampa, Driving Innovation and National Security
The new facility will manufacture and integrate XTEND's advanced drone systems to support critical U.S. defense missions. The opening comes as federal leaders intensify their push for domestically produced drone technologies that reduce foreign reliance and strengthen national security.
"We are not just building drones, we are building capabilities, resilience and trust," said XTEND Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder Aviv Shapira. "This facility marks a new chapter for XTEND in the United States and reflects our commitment to delivering the most advanced, mission-ready systems to our customers. We're proud to establish our U.S. headquarters in Tampa and grateful for the strong support from local, state and federal partners as we continue to scale our operations."
XTEND was founded in 2018 by brothers Aviv and Matteo Shapira in partnership with Rubi Liani. Prior to establishing XTEND, the Shapira brothers co-founded Replay Technologies, which was acquired by Intel in 2016 for $175 million.
"Our systems are designed to give operators unprecedented control, safety and performance in the most demanding environments," said XTEND CTO and Co-Founder Rubi Liani. "This new facility enables us to bring advanced engineering and innovation directly to the U.S. market, allowing for rapid integration, customization and deployment. It's a critical step in our mission to redefine human-machine collaboration in defense and national security."
"Establishing a U.S. headquarters and production facility is more than just a business expansion, it's a commitment to building enduring partnerships that strengthen America's defense innovation ecosystem," said XTEND Vice President and U.S. General Manager Roy Levy. "This facility is not just about delivering cutting-edge systems, it's about ensuring speed, reliability and integration at the pace of mission demand. XTEND is here to deliver solutions that work when it matters most."
"This milestone represents the realization of XTEND's vision to bring our groundbreaking technologies closer to the U.S. defense ecosystem," said Dr. Peter Kash, XTEND Chairman of the Board. "With this facility, we're laying the foundation for sustained growth, high-tech job creation and meaningful contributions to America's security and industrial capabilities. I'm incredibly proud of the team that made this moment possible, amplifying the connectivity of Florida and the future of AI and Robotics."
XTEND's U.S. facility represents a major step in expanding U.S.-based production capacity and supporting the growing demand for advanced drone systems across the defense and public safety sectors. While focused on delivering Group 1 drones under contract for the U.S. Department of Defense, manufacturing will eventually expand to other critical drone components such as communication modules, motors and controllers to serve the country's broader drone industry. The site is expected to generate dozens of new jobs over the coming years and further Florida's role as a hub for aerospace and defense systems manufacturing.
About XTEND Reality Inc.
XTEND Reality Inc. is a pioneering defense technology company specializing in AI-assisted, human-guided drone systems designed to transform tactical operations across defense, public safety, and private security sectors. Our mission is to enhance remote operators' combat impact with cost-effective, AI-assisted tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). At the core of our innovation is the patented XTEND Operating System (XOS), which seamlessly integrates human decision-making with machine autonomy. This platform empowers operators to conduct complex missions remotely with ease, controlling teams of multi-mission robots and enabling autonomous sub-tasks while retaining high-level decision-making in human hands. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel, XTEND has expanded its operations to the United States, with a significant presence in Florida. Our team comprises experts in aeronautics, flight algorithms, mechanical design, system architecture, UX/UI, and operations & integration, all dedicated to pioneering advancements in human-machine teaming. XTEND's systems are battle-proven and operationally deployed worldwide, continuously evolving to meet the demands of modern warfare and public safety operations. By fusing cutting-edge technology with human intuition, XTEND is committed to delivering the future of tactical UAS control, ensuring mission success and operator safety.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
XTEND Reality Inc. Debuts New U.S. Headquarters and Drone Production Facility in Tampa, Driving Innovation and National Security
XTEND Reality Inc. Debuts New U.S. Headquarters and Drone Production Facility in Tampa, Driving Innovation and National Security
XTEND Reality Inc. Debuts New U.S. Headquarters and Drone Production Facility in Tampa, Driving Innovation and National Security
XTEND Reality Inc. Debuts New U.S. Headquarters and Drone Production Facility in Tampa, Driving Innovation and National Security
XTEND Reality Inc. Debuts New U.S. Headquarters and Drone Production Facility in Tampa, Driving Innovation and National Security
XTEND Reality Inc. Debuts New U.S. Headquarters and Drone Production Facility in Tampa, Driving Innovation and National Security
|
- Will collaborate with the Vietnamese government and educational institutions to train construction equipment professionals
- Plans to provide comprehensive support and technical expertise for the entire process leading to WorldSkills Shanghai in September
- "Committed to fostering young technical talent and bolstering industrial competitiveness in Vietnam."
SEOUL, South Korea, April 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- HD Construction Equipment, the intermediary holding company of HD Hyundai's construction equipment business, will be expanding its commitment to nurturing global technical talent in the construction machinery sector by supporting Vietnam's national team for WorldSkills.
HD Construction Equipment announced on Sunday, April 5 that it signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Hanoi with the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training, or DVET, under the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, and the Central College of Transport No. 1 (CCT1), a local vocational training college. The agreement aims to support Vietnam's participation in the WorldSkills competition.
Under this agreement, HD Construction Equipment will assist with the entire process—from training to competition entry—for the Vietnamese national representative competing in the Heavy Vehicle Maintenance category at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, scheduled for this September.
The company plans to offer comprehensive technical training to Nguyen Xuan Khanh, who was selected as the national representative last year. Furthermore, the company will cover all expenses related to this training, including airfare, registration fees, and accommodation, in order to create an optimal environment for the competitor to maximize his performance.
In July of last year, HD Construction Equipment signed an MOU with CCT1, which includes the Green and Smart Construction Equipment Talent Project. This initiative is part of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)'s inclusive business program. The collaboration aims to support the development of smart equipment in Vietnam and to create localized training curricula.
The company has deepened its commitment to Vietnam through a series of key initiatives, including hosting government officials and instructors for training in October, supporting national skills trials in November, and awarding scholarships.
An official from HD Construction Equipment stated, "This collaboration is not just a one-time event; it is part of our commitment to sustainable, locally integrated business practices. We will continue to foster Vietnam's young technical talents, helping them compete on the global stage."
- Will collaborate with the Vietnamese government and educational institutions to train construction equipment professionals
- Plans to provide comprehensive support and technical expertise for the entire process leading to WorldSkills Shanghai in September
- "Committed to fostering young technical talent and bolstering industrial competitiveness in Vietnam."
SEOUL, South Korea, April 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- HD Construction Equipment, the intermediary holding company of HD Hyundai's construction equipment business, will be expanding its commitment to nurturing global technical talent in the construction machinery sector by supporting Vietnam's national team for WorldSkills.
HD Construction Equipment announced on Sunday, April 5 that it signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Hanoi with the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training, or DVET, under the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, and the Central College of Transport No. 1 (CCT1), a local vocational training college. The agreement aims to support Vietnam's participation in the WorldSkills competition.
Under this agreement, HD Construction Equipment will assist with the entire process—from training to competition entry—for the Vietnamese national representative competing in the Heavy Vehicle Maintenance category at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, scheduled for this September.
The company plans to offer comprehensive technical training to Nguyen Xuan Khanh, who was selected as the national representative last year. Furthermore, the company will cover all expenses related to this training, including airfare, registration fees, and accommodation, in order to create an optimal environment for the competitor to maximize his performance.
In July of last year, HD Construction Equipment signed an MOU with CCT1, which includes the Green and Smart Construction Equipment Talent Project. This initiative is part of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)'s inclusive business program. The collaboration aims to support the development of smart equipment in Vietnam and to create localized training curricula.
The company has deepened its commitment to Vietnam through a series of key initiatives, including hosting government officials and instructors for training in October, supporting national skills trials in November, and awarding scholarships.
An official from HD Construction Equipment stated, "This collaboration is not just a one-time event; it is part of our commitment to sustainable, locally integrated business practices. We will continue to foster Vietnam's young technical talents, helping them compete on the global stage."
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
HD Construction Equipment to Support Training for Vietnam's National WorldSkills Team