XTEND Reality Inc. (XTEND) has leased over 5,700 square feet in Crossroads Industrial Center and plans to create up to 100 new jobs over the next three years
Tampa, Fla. (July 1, 2025) – XTEND, a developer of human-guided drones for use in military and law enforcement applications, has announced that it will establish its U.S. headquarters in Tampa. The firm, whose technology has been tested and deployed by the U.S. military and Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), has been awarded a U.S. Department of Defense contract. It opened on 1 May 2025 and anticipates creating 19 new jobs this year and up to 100 within the next three. Positions the company will initially fill include business development, manufacturing production and assembly, and program management.
“XTEND selected Tampa, as the location for our U.S. headquarters and advanced drone manufacturing facility for numerous reasons, foremost among them its proximity to a critical defense and public safety 
customer base,” said XTEND Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder Aviv Shapira. “The region’s business-friendly environment, access to top-tier talent and strong support from leaders at every level make Tampa the ideal place to scale our operations and bring innovative drone technology to the market. We are excited to be part of this dynamic community and proud to call Tampa our new home.”
The Tampa Bay Economic Development Council assisted XTEND with several site visits, labor market and community overviews, as well as meetings with Florida Commerce representatives, staffing agencies and CareerSource Tampa Bay.
XTEND was founded in 2018 by brothers Aviv and Matteo Shapira in partnership with Rubi Lihani. Prior to establishing XTEND, the Shapira brothers co-founded Replay Technologies, which was acquired by Intel in 2016 for $175 million. XTEND’s technology is used by the U.S. Military IDF to help soldiers perform complex and dangerous combat missions such as scanning tunnels and remote buildings for explosives without having to risk their lives.
“Wins like this are a direct result of the strategic trade missions led by Governor DeSantis, FloridaCommerce, and SelectFlorida—including the 2019 and 2023 missions to Israel—as well as strong collaboration between state and local partners. Florida continues to attract innovative, entrepreneurial companies like XTEND because of this unified approach,” said Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly. “Thanks to the Governor’s leadership, Florida has made smart, targeted investments in key industries such as aerospace, aviation, military and defense, and manufacturing. That commitment builds lasting confidence among job creators and job seekers.”
According to the latest Florida Defense Industry Economic Impact Analysis shared by FloridaCommerce in January 2025, the state’s Military and Defense industry cluster accounts for over 865,000 direct and indirect jobs and generates an annual economic impact of $102.6 billion, an increase of nearly 6,000 jobs and 6.2% in economic activity from the previous study.
“We are thrilled to welcome XTEND to Tampa,” said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. “As the home of MacDill Air Force Base and one of the largest veteran workforces in the state and a growing AI, cybersecurity, manufacturing and robotics talent pool, I have no doubt that they will find the professionals they need to grow and thrive in our community.”
MacDill Air Force Base hosts two four-star Combatant Commands: U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) and U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), as well as other mission partners and specialized security and intelligence firms.
XTEND’s operations will be housed in a state-of-the-art new facility located in the Crossroads Industrial Center at 5247 Crossroads Park Drive, Tampa, FL 33610. Cushman Wakefield represents the property and negotiated the lease.
“Hillsborough County offers manufacturing operations like XTEND one of the best locations in Florida for talent recruitment and shipping product by land, sea, or air,” said Commissioner Ken Hagan of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners. “I thank them for their investment in our community and look forward to their success in our market.”
The Tampa Bay Economic Development Council continues to see strong interest from international companies setting up U.S. operations. Other international companies that have recently chosen to locate in Tampa and Hillsborough County include Medability, Systal Technology Solutions, JSWD Architecture, WellnessLiving and Strive Sales.
“XTEND is an excellent addition to our burgeoning technology, defense and manufacturing sectors,” said Ron Christaldi, Chair of the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council and Shumaker Partner/President and CEO of Shumaker Advisors Florida. “We’re delighted to welcome another highly innovative international company to Tampa and help it achieve tremendous success in this market.”
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.
About the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council
The Tampa Bay Economic Development Council is the lead designated economic development agency for Hillsborough County and the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace. Established in 2009 as a partnership between the public sector and private corporate investors, the EDC works to advance a diversified local economy that is beneficial to all by attracting, expanding and retaining quality employers, a talented workforce and investment, focusing within targeted industry sectors, including Corporate Headquarters, Financial and Professional Services, Information Technology, Life Science and Health Care, Defense and Security, Distribution and Logistics, and Manufacturing. The EDC exists because of the generous support of more than 100 corporations, Hillsborough County, and the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace. For more information, visit www.tampabayedc.com.
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