The British Army conducted its first long-range autonomous strike missions with live kinetic payloads during Ex RHINO BIZZ, a major training exercise supported by XTEND, the Israeli firm known for its interactive drone operating systems. The exercise validated operational protocols for deploying armed unmanned aerial systems beyond line-of-sight, a capability the UK Ministry of Defence has prioritized as it modernizes infantry and special operations units. XTEND's participation builds on a November 2025 demonstration with the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, where the company's XOS operating system controlled drones firing live munitions in combat scenarios. That earlier test marked the first time a foreign commercial technology was integrated into a live-fire exercise with British airborne forces.
Ex RHINO BIZZ took place in early 2026 and involved multiple British Army units testing autonomous strike procedures in simulated contested environments. XTEND provided its drone control architecture, which allows operators to manage multiple aerial platforms simultaneously through a heads-up display and intuitive interface. Unlike fully autonomous systems that execute missions without human input, XTEND's approach keeps operators in supervisory roles, capable of overriding automated flight paths and weapon release decisions. This operator-in-the-loop design aligns with the UK's stated policy on lethal autonomous weapons, which requires human judgment in targeting decisions. The Ministry of Defence has not disclosed which specific drone platforms were used during the exercise, but XTEND's systems are designed to work across various airframes, including quadcopters and fixed-wing UAVs manufactured by third parties.
The company's technology gained attention in 2023 when it secured contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense and demonstrated its systems at multiple NATO exercises. XTEND was founded in 2018 by Aviv Shapira, Matteo Shapira, and Rubi Liani, veterans of Israel's elite technology units. Its XOS platform translates complex drone piloting tasks into simplified inputs, reducing the training time required to operate armed UAVs in high-pressure scenarios. The system's augmented reality interface overlays real-time sensor data onto the operator's field of view, enabling rapid target identification and engagement. During the 2 PARA demonstration in November 2025, XTEND's technology allowed soldiers with minimal prior drone experience to complete strike missions after brief training sessions, a capability the British Army views as essential for scaling unmanned warfare across conventional infantry units. The firm has raised over $60 million in venture funding and maintains offices in Israel and the United States, with growing operations in Europe as defense ministries there accelerate procurement of tactical UAS.
The successful completion of Ex RHINO BIZZ arrives as the British Army expands its drone warfare infrastructure. The Ministry of Defence allocated £2.5 billion for autonomous systems development in its 2024-2027 equipment plan, with a significant portion earmarked for offensive UAVs capable of carrying precision munitions. Multiple defense contractors are competing for long-term supply agreements, and the ministry has indicated it will conduct additional live-fire trials through 2027 before finalizing procurement decisions. XTEND's involvement in these exercises positions the firm alongside established defense primes like Elbit Systems, Thales UK, and Aeronautics, all of which have submitted bids for British Army drone programs. The shift toward operator-assisted autonomous strike systems reflects broader trends across NATO militaries, which are balancing the efficiency gains of automation against political and ethical constraints on fully autonomous weapons. France, Germany, and Poland have all conducted similar trials in the past 18 months, and interoperability between allied drone systems has become a priority as NATO develops doctrine for multi-domain operations involving unmanned platforms.
What to Watch: Track whether the British Army issues a formal request for proposals for long-range strike UAVs by the fourth quarter of 2026, which would signal movement from trials to procurement. Monitor XTEND's participation in upcoming NATO exercises scheduled for autumn 2026, particularly Exercise Steadfast Defender, where interoperability with U.S. and European drone systems will be tested. Watch for announcements from competing firms like Elbit Systems and Aeronautics regarding their own UK trials, as the Ministry of Defence evaluates multiple platforms before committing to large-scale purchases.
