Eric Trump Backs Israeli Drone Maker XTEND's $1.5B Merger to Bring AI Defense Robotics to Nasdaq

Eric Trump Backs $1.5B AI Defense Robotics Nasdaq Deal - JFB Construction (NASDAQ:JFB)

Eric Trump Is Backing An AI Defense Robotics Firm Headed For Nasdaq -- And Wall Street Should Pay Attention 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 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. Image: Shutterstock Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.

Eric Trump invests in Israeli drone maker XTEND's merger with Florida construction firm

Eric Trump, Executive Vice President of The Trump Organization and son of US President Donald Trump, speaks to Reuters during an interview in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, January 11, 2026. Eric Trump, son of US President Donald Trump, is investing in a $1.5 billion merger between Israeli drone maker XTEND and Florida-based JFB Construction Holdings in a deal aimed at taking XTEND public. Drone maker Unusual Machines, which tapped Eric's brother Donald Trump Jr. in November 2024 as an advisor, is also investing in the merger, JFB said in a release on Tuesday. The Trump family has been expanding its business ventures since Donald Trump's return to office, including cryptocurrency sales that generated about $800 million for the family in the first half of 2025 alone. The move comes as drones have become a top-selling item at the Pentagon and are playing a central role in the Ukrainian battlefield, where conventional warplanes are scarce due to dense air defense systems near the front lines. The success of drones on the ground has also led to a spike in Silicon Valley investment in drone and military artificial intelligence startups, driving up the valuations of US firms such as Anduril Industries and Shield AI. XTEND's success in the defense tech field XTEND's AI-enabled systems are being used by the US Department of Defense, Singapore, Europe, the UK, and the Israel Defense Forces, as of July 2025. Other investors in XTEND's merger include Israel-based Protego Ventures, Texas-based real estate development firm American Ventures, and Miami-based Aliya Capital. The all-stock merger is expected to close by the middle of 2026, after which the joint company will be renamed XTEND AI Robotics and listed on Nasdaq under the ticker "XTND."