WingXpand, which is an emerging U.S. drone company known for its uniquely portable, expandable drones, just scored a significant partnership that could propel it higher in the military and defense space. That’s because WingXpand this week announced a collaboration with defense giant Raytheon.

The collaboration will bring Raytheon’s advanced infrared and AI capabilities to WingXpand’s xRAI drones in what could very likely give a significant boost to the drone’s threat-detection abilities.

For WingXpand, this deal represents a major step in continuing to establish itself as a key player in defense-focused drone technology. The St. Louis, Missouri-based company was founded just a few years ago in 2022. Though it has commercial clients, WingXpand has increasingly been following in the path of other American drone companies such as Utah-based Teal that are seeking to catch the attention of the defense community.

And for what it’s worth, WingXpand is already an established player in the military drone space. In fact, this Raytheon collaboration came about as part of an ongoing U.S. Army contract. WingXpand has also worked with the U.S. Air Force and Navy (as well as civil entities). Meanwhile, WingXpand also recently won the U.S. Army’s xTechSpecialForces competition, signaling significant government interest in the Missouri-based drone company.

How Raytheon’s expertise will play into WingXpand’s xRAI drones

At the heart of the partnership is a new integration of Raytheon’s infrared sensors and AI algorithms into WingXpand’s xRAI drones. This technology will allow the drones to quickly identify potential threats in real time, making them more effective tools for soldiers, public safety teams and other responders operating in fast-paced, high-risk environments.

For WingXpand, this collaboration builds on their fleet of drones that are both portable and functional. Rather than the quadcopter style that serves most drones, WingXpand drones are fixed-wing aircraft (like airplanes). Their unique selling point? The wings quickly come on and off, making the drones just as portable as most quadcopters. (Check out my deep dive on how WingXpand makes their drones fit into a backpack.)

Wingcopter’s xRAI model also embodies that model, expands from a compact backpack to a full-sized drone, is designed to adapt to a variety of situations, from tight urban spaces to rugged terrain. By bringing Raytheon’s threat-detection tools into the mix, WingXpand will be able to equip its drones with a greater level of situational awareness. Particularly for military customers, that could be a huge selling point.

New VTOL capability increases flexibility

In addition to the Raytheon partnership, WingXpand recently rolled out a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capability for the xRAI drone. This feature is new to WingXpand, but is found in other popular aircraft such as Wing’s delivery drones. With VTOL aircraft, you get the best of both worlds: vertical takeoff like a helicopter, but long flight times like a plane.

That just means the xRAI can operate more effectively in restricted spaces where traditional runways or open fields aren’t an option for takeoff — all the while being compact enough to carry on your back.

In fact, WingXpand claims its drones can fly 5x longer, while carrying 10x more weigh, than traditional drones.

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