Newsletter
India and Israel are taking their partnership up a notch, this time in the world of AI and drones.
What’s poppin’: Israel-based robotics firm XTEND has signed an $11 million deal with India’s Rayonix Tech to manufacture and distribute unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) locally.
Rayonix isn’t your typical drone company. It’s known for building advanced X-ray imaging systems used in scientific research. But with this deal, it’s stepping into the defence and drone space in a big way.
Under the partnership, Rayonix will become XTEND’s exclusive partner in India. That means it will handle local manufacturing, testing, and distribution of these AI-powered drones, aligning with India’s push to build more defence tech at home instead of importing it.
At the core of these drones will be XTEND’s XOS software, which allows for human-guided autonomy. In simple terms, these drones can operate smartly on their own, but still stay under human control when needed.
Why it matters: because India’s drone ecosystem is already taking off. As of February 2026, the country has over 38,500 registered drones, nearly 40,000 certified drone pilots, and 244 approved training organisations.
