Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works and Israeli drone company XTEND are expanding their cooperation by integrating XTEND’s operating system into Skunk Works’ MDCX autonomy platform.
The integration of the XTEND Operating System (XOS) will enable a single operator to simultaneously command and control multiple classes of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), with the goal of improving situational awareness and operational efficiency, according to a statement released by the two companies.
Previously, operators of larger UAS platforms would transfer control to another operator responsible for lower-tier systems, using tools such as first-person-view interfaces and “mark-and-fly” commands. Following the integration, a single operator can execute lower-level missions in joint all-domain C2 (JADC2) scenarios.
Classified advanced tech
Skunk Works is Lockheed Martin’s advanced development division, known for pioneering new aerospace and defense technologies, including advanced aircraft, the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto GCAS), and command-and-control systems.
Candis Roussel, integrated communications manager at Lockheed Martin, told Defense & Tech by The Jerusalem Post that Skunk Works has “always been at the forefront of cutting‑edge technology, and we love tackling new challenges.”
“Skunk Works has been around since the 1950s, driving innovation in aerospace engineering,” Roussel said. “Our mission is to keep pace with the rapidly evolving environment and provide the safety, data, and agility that pilots and warfighters need to operate quickly and effectively – improving both their safety and their success.”
“Ninety‑seven percent of our work is classified, but the remaining three percent gives you a glimpse into the complexity and advanced capabilities our teams are developing,” she added.
Founded in Israel and based in Tel Aviv, XTEND specializes in human-guided autonomous drone systems for defense and security applications. The company operates globally, with offices in Israel, the United States, Singapore, and Latvia.
XTEND’s drone command-and-control (C2) systems are used by militaries around the world and are designed to operate in harsh and contested environments, including scenarios in which GPS signals are denied or communications are jammed. The company says its XOS allows new operators to conduct missions at near expert-level proficiency, reducing training time while increasing operational effectiveness and informed decision-making.
The integration also reflects a broader shift within Western militaries toward distributed command-and-control architectures capable of operating in highly contested environments, where centralized control and uninterrupted communications cannot be assumed.
Battle‑tested tech coupled with future autonomy
“At XTEND, we’ve unfortunately been involved in many conflicts around the world. But that experience makes our technology truly battle-proven, something you can’t buy. And operating with remotes saves lives,” Xtend CEO Aviv Shapira told D&T.
“Think about how you have three remote controls at home. Now imagine a soldier carrying 20 or even 200 remotes for different platforms. Lockheed Martin is building one controller for everything with XOS inside. They think big. And Skunk Works isn’t the typical Lockheed Martin. They’re built for adaptability, and sometimes they move even faster than we do,” he said.
According to Shapira, creating one single controller is “incredibly difficult from an engineering perspective” and is one of the biggest challenges faced by the collaborative effort.
“If we succeed and take this all the way, we can solve one of the biggest challenges in unmanned systems today: manpower. Every operator trains differently, and every operator risks their life in battle. It can be a huge win for the entire industry,” he said.
George Hellstern, Lockheed Martin Senior Technology Fellow for Autonomy and AI Mission Systems, who has been working in autonomy since 2017, told D&T that “XTEND was a natural fit. I first met them around 2019–2020, and I was immediately impressed by what they could do with Class 1 and Class 2 drones.”
Hellstern, who has been in the R&D field since 2002, explained that their command and control station goes back to the 1980s and has been working to incorporate customer feedback for decades.
“My background is in command‑and‑control for larger drones, while XTEND was doing the same for smaller systems. Bringing those worlds together made perfect sense,” he said, adding that Skunk Works’ command and control solution “is probably the most mature in the field.”
“We usually work at the objective‑level planning layer, and XTEND has deep experience in FPV operations. We wanted to merge those approaches and see whether the command‑and‑control experience could be unified without handing drones off between operators.”
Toward scalable remote operations in contested environments
The companies intend to explore the use of the integrated system for future Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) missions. JADC2 is a US Department of Defense initiative aimed at enabling AI-assisted data and communications sharing across all branches of the armed forces.
In a demonstration conducted in November, they showcased an integrated Multi-Class MDCX (MC-MDCX) workstation supporting a so-called “marsupial drone” mission. During the test, a larger UAS deployed a smaller Class 1 drone to conduct a close-range operation, with both platforms controlled by a single operator.
Pushing forward
Following the successful demonstration, both companies are now looking to bring it to the battlefield.
“Aviv and I are excited to push this technology forward. He has connections with people using it on the front lines, and together we hope to create a strong joint pull from real operators,” Hellstern said. “The fastest transitions happen when customers pull the technology across the finish line.”
Echoing him, Shapira said that the only way to scale the program is through collaboration.
“This collaboration is about building the software that wins missions through smarter, higher‑quality products,” he said, adding that “Lockheed and XTEND are now looking for end users who can give feedback and use the system in battle. It’s safe to say that drones and robots are the future of warfare, handling complex missions such as intelligence, strike capabilities, and counter‑UAS.”
According to Hellstern, “We’ve built the prototype and are ready for the next step. We’ll be presenting it to stakeholders and preparing to transition it to users who can control multiple drones at once.”
While the concept of controlling drone swarms with this technology is not currently being explored by XTEND or Skunk Works, the companies discussed the marsupial concept, where a larger crewed aircraft carries drones into a contested area while the larger platform’s operator maintains command and control of the smaller drones for mission execution.
“Our marsupial approach starts with larger platforms carrying smaller ones, all operated from one ground station. From there, we can scale to additional platforms,” Hellstern said.
Shapira told the D&T that the marsupial approach is the future of combat.
“Replacing soldiers with unmanned vehicles and drones is essential. That reality isn’t going to change. Platforms will keep evolving, and that’s why we are both investing heavily in software, because software will win the war,” Shapira said.
“Imagine deploying 1,000 drones anywhere in the world from a single aircraft. Larger, more expensive aircraft like the C‑130 can perform a wide range of missions. With this approach, soldiers don’t need to carry drones at all; everything can be operated remotely.”