WASHINGTON / TEL AVIV, Feb 17 (GeokHub) — Eric Trump, son of U.S. President Donald Trump, has invested in a $1.5 billion merger between Israeli drone manufacturer XTEND and Florida-based construction firm JFB Construction Holdings, a move intended to take XTEND public.
Drone company Unusual Machines, which appointed Eric’s brother Donald Trump Jr. as an advisor in 2024, is also participating in the investment, according to JFB.
The deal reflects the growing global demand for drones, which have become essential tools for the U.S. Department of Defense, allied militaries, and defense contractors. Drones are increasingly used in complex battlefields like Ukraine, where dense air defense systems have limited the effectiveness of conventional aircraft.
“This merger positions XTEND to capitalize on soaring demand for AI-enabled drone systems in both defense and commercial sectors,” said a company spokesperson. XTEND’s technology is already in use by the U.S., U.K., Singapore, Europe, and Israel as of mid-2025.
The transaction is attracting additional investors, including Israel-based Protego Ventures, Texas real estate developer American Ventures, and Miami-based Aliya Capital.
Market Trends and Family Ventures
The merger comes amid a surge of interest in drone and military AI startups, driven by Silicon Valley investment and heightened defense needs. U.S. companies such as Anduril Industries and Shield AI have seen valuations rise as demand for advanced autonomous systems increases.
The Trump family has also been expanding commercial ventures, including cryptocurrency sales that reportedly generated approximately $800 million in the first half of 2025.
The all-stock merger is expected to close by mid-2026, after which the combined company will be renamed XTEND AI Robotics and listed on Nasdaq under the ticker “XTND.
