{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"90390","rtpr_id":"nGNX6BHZyz","ticker":"JFB","exchange":"NASDAQ","all_tickers":["JFB"],"title":"XTEND Supports British Army During Major Autonomous Strike Exercise, Advancing UK Operational Drone Warfare Capabilities","author":"Globe Newswire","published_at":"2026-07-16T12:30:00.198Z","article_body":"Successful Completion of Ex RHINO BIZZ Builds on Historic UK Live-Fire\nMilestone with 2 PARA, Validates the British Army's First Long-Range\nAutonomous Strike Missions with Live Kinetic Payloads\n\nTAMPA, Fla. and SWINDON, U.K., July 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JFB\nConstruction Holdings (Nasdaq: JFB) announced today that XTEND, a leader in\nsoftware systems and artificial intelligence-powered robotics, successfully\nsupported the British Army during Ex RHINO BIZZ, a major drone and electronic\nwarfare exercise conducted at the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS)\nin Alberta, Canada.\n\nThe exercise represents the latest milestone in XTEND's expanding\ncollaboration with the British Army following the historic live-fire\ndemonstration conducted with the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment (2 PARA)\nearlier this year, which marked the first live firing of an uncrewed aerial\nsystem by British forces in UK airspace.\n\nConducted across the 2,700-square-kilometer (1,042-square-mile) BATUS training\narea, Ex RHINO BIZZ brought together approximately 350 soldiers from 16 Air\nAssault Brigade to train in next-generation combat operations reflecting\nlessons emerging from modern conflicts. The exercise combined autonomous\nsystems, electronic warfare, contested communications and human-machine\nteaming to replicate increasingly realistic battlefield conditions and\nreflects the British Army's continued evolution toward software-defined\nautonomous operations.\n\n\"Modern warfare is undergoing one of its most significant transformations in\ngenerations,\" said Aviv Shapira, Co-Founder and CEO of XTEND. \"Military\nadvantage will increasingly belong to forces capable of integrating\nsoftware-defined autonomy into everyday operations. The successful operational\nemployment of our systems during Ex RHINO BIZZ demonstrates how AI-powered\nautonomy is evolving from technology demonstrations into operational\ncapability, enabling armed forces to execute increasingly complex missions\nwhile keeping soldiers further from harm.\"\n\n\nDuring Ex RHINO BIZZ, soldiers from 2 PARA employed XTEND's SCORPIO 1000\nautonomous strike systems in seek-and-strike missions across one of the\nworld's largest military training areas, operating under realistic battlefield\nconditions that included electronic warfare and GNSS-denied scenarios. XTEND\ndeployed five SCORPIO 1000 systems, operated independently by 2 PARA's UAS\nPlatoon without XTEND operational support, demonstrating the unit's ability to\nindependently employ the capability in realistic operational conditions.\n\nXTEND's systems were the only autonomous platforms authorized to operate with\nlive kinetic payloads during the exercise, enabling British forces to\nsuccessfully validate autonomous strike missions designed to engage targets at\ndistances of 3.6 kilometers (2.2 miles), 6.5 kilometers (4.0 miles) and 7.5\nkilometers (4.7 miles). This represents the British Army's first validation of\nlong-range autonomous strike missions with live kinetic payloads.\n\nThis achievement further strengthens XTEND's presence in the United Kingdom\nfollowing the establishment of its sovereign UK XFAB manufacturing and support\nfacility in Swindon. The facility provides localized manufacturing,\nengineering and lifecycle support for the United Kingdom and allied defense\ncustomers as demand for sovereign autonomous capabilities continues to grow.\n\n\"Our collaboration with the British Army has progressed from an initial\nproof-of-concept demonstration to independent operational employment by\nfrontline soldiers,\" said Ofer Shahaf, General Manager of XTEND UK.\n\"Progressing to Ex RHINO BIZZ reflects the confidence built through close\ncollaboration with British defense stakeholders and our commitment to\nsupporting the long-term modernization of allied forces through sovereign\nautonomous capabilities.\"\n\n\nXTEND's SCORPIO 1000 is powered by the company's proprietary XTEND Operating\nSystem (XOS), an AI-driven autonomy platform that enables operators to execute\ncomplex missions with significantly reduced training requirements. The\nplatform combines autonomous navigation, human-guided autonomy, resilient\ncommunications and mission-adaptable payload integration to support operations\nin complex and contested environments, allowing operators to maintain mission\neffectiveness in rapidly evolving battlefield conditions.\n\nThe successful completion of Ex RHINO BIZZ marks another milestone in XTEND's\nlong-term collaboration with the British Army and reinforces the Company's\nposition as a provider of operationally validated AI-powered autonomous\nsystems supporting the modernization of allied defense forces.\n\n+++++\n\nTo sign up to receive press releases in real time, please visit ir.xtend.me\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=O69UM0xD_0MictkWDaggyN-OqJ-L0pz9O8jWCeiA09qXl4vW4dDf4sbXfzhB4zY6yj9rdBfiACkWpl6z5sE9fQ==).\n\n+++\n\nAs announced on February 17, 2026, JFB Construction Holdings (Nasdaq: JFB) and\nXTEND entered into a definitive agreement to combine with XTEND in an\nall-stock transaction. The business combination is further supported by\nstrategic investments from Eric Trump, Unusual Machines, American Ventures,\nLLC, Protego Ventures, and Aliya Capital. Following the closing of the\nbusiness combination, the joint company is expected to be renamed XTEND AI\nRobotics and be listed on a U.S. national securities exchange under the ticker\nsymbol “XTND.”\n\nForward-Looking Statements\n\nThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of\nthe Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking\nstatements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Xtend’s\nbacklog, sales pipeline, revenue projections, and business outlook. Such\nstatements are based on current expectations and assumptions and involve risks\nand uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from\nthose described. Xtend undertakes no obligation to update or revise any\nforward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future\nevents, or otherwise. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on\nthese forward-looking statements. For a discussion of the risks and\nuncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, please\nrefer to Xtend’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.\n\nAbout Xtend\n\nXTEND is a leader in software systems and artificial intelligence-powered\nrobotics, deployed in high-threat, complex operational environments where\nhuman exposure carries significant risk. Powered by its proprietary XTEND\nOperating System (XOS), XTEND’s integrated software and advanced robotic\nhardware solutions are designed to provide autonomy at the edge. Operating\nacross defense, law enforcement, and private security missions through a\nplatform of robots, drones, and robotic subsystems, XTEND’s open\narchitecture platform facilitates scalability across partners and third-party\napplications. With over 10,000 systems deployed in over 30 countries,\nXTEND’s solutions have been validated in five combat zones and operationally\ndeployed by national defense, special-mission units, and security\norganizations across the globe. Founded in Tel Aviv, Israel, and headquartered\nin Tampa, Florida, XTEND delivers NDAA-compliant solutions through a global\nnetwork of regional XFAB manufacturing facilities located in the U.S., the\nU.K., Singapore, Israel, and Latvia. For more information,\nvisit www.xtend.me.\n\nAbout JFB Construction Holdings\n\nJFB Construction Holdings (Nasdaq: JFB) is a real estate development and\nconstruction company that has provided general contracting and construction\nmanagement services in 36 U.S. states. For more information, visit the\ncompany’s SEC filings at www.sec.gov.\n\nImportant Information for Investors and Stockholders\n\nThis communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to,\nand does not, constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to\nbuy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there\nbe any issuance or sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer,\nsolicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification\nunder the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. In connection with the\ntransaction, NewCo and JFB filed a registration statement on Form S-4.\nInvestors and security holders are urged to read the information\nstatement/prospectus or registration statement and any other documents filed\nwith the SEC carefully and in their entirety when they become available.\nCopies of the documents filed with the SEC by JFB will be available free of\ncharge at www.sec.gov.\n\nJFB Construction Holdings Contact:\nCORE IR Mike Mason 516-222-2560 investors@jfbconstruction.net\n\nXTEND Media Contact:\nHeadline Media Sarah Small 929-255-1449 sarah@headline.media\n\nXTEND Investor Relations:\nMZ North America Shannon Devine 203-741-8811 XTND@mzgroup.us\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6fd94e26-0ec8-43f9-99b9-2f4311a14ec0)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nGNX6BHZyz","title":"XTEND Supports British Army During Major Autonomous Strike Exercise, Advancing UK Operational Drone Warfare Capabilities","author":"Globe Newswire","ticker":"JFB","created":"2026-07-16T12:30:00.198Z","tickers":["JFB"],"exchange":"NASDAQ","article_body":"Successful Completion of Ex RHINO BIZZ Builds on Historic UK Live-Fire\nMilestone with 2 PARA, Validates the British Army's First Long-Range\nAutonomous Strike Missions with Live Kinetic Payloads\n\nTAMPA, Fla. and SWINDON, U.K., July 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JFB\nConstruction Holdings (Nasdaq: JFB) announced today that XTEND, a leader in\nsoftware systems and artificial intelligence-powered robotics, successfully\nsupported the British Army during Ex RHINO BIZZ, a major drone and electronic\nwarfare exercise conducted at the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS)\nin Alberta, Canada.\n\nThe exercise represents the latest milestone in XTEND's expanding\ncollaboration with the British Army following the historic live-fire\ndemonstration conducted with the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment (2 PARA)\nearlier this year, which marked the first live firing of an uncrewed aerial\nsystem by British forces in UK airspace.\n\nConducted across the 2,700-square-kilometer (1,042-square-mile) BATUS training\narea, Ex RHINO BIZZ brought together approximately 350 soldiers from 16 Air\nAssault Brigade to train in next-generation combat operations reflecting\nlessons emerging from modern conflicts. The exercise combined autonomous\nsystems, electronic warfare, contested communications and human-machine\nteaming to replicate increasingly realistic battlefield conditions and\nreflects the British Army's continued evolution toward software-defined\nautonomous operations.\n\n\"Modern warfare is undergoing one of its most significant transformations in\ngenerations,\" said Aviv Shapira, Co-Founder and CEO of XTEND. \"Military\nadvantage will increasingly belong to forces capable of integrating\nsoftware-defined autonomy into everyday operations. The successful operational\nemployment of our systems during Ex RHINO BIZZ demonstrates how AI-powered\nautonomy is evolving from technology demonstrations into operational\ncapability, enabling armed forces to execute increasingly complex missions\nwhile keeping soldiers further from harm.\"\n\n\nDuring Ex RHINO BIZZ, soldiers from 2 PARA employed XTEND's SCORPIO 1000\nautonomous strike systems in seek-and-strike missions across one of the\nworld's largest military training areas, operating under realistic battlefield\nconditions that included electronic warfare and GNSS-denied scenarios. XTEND\ndeployed five SCORPIO 1000 systems, operated independently by 2 PARA's UAS\nPlatoon without XTEND operational support, demonstrating the unit's ability to\nindependently employ the capability in realistic operational conditions.\n\nXTEND's systems were the only autonomous platforms authorized to operate with\nlive kinetic payloads during the exercise, enabling British forces to\nsuccessfully validate autonomous strike missions designed to engage targets at\ndistances of 3.6 kilometers (2.2 miles), 6.5 kilometers (4.0 miles) and 7.5\nkilometers (4.7 miles). This represents the British Army's first validation of\nlong-range autonomous strike missions with live kinetic payloads.\n\nThis achievement further strengthens XTEND's presence in the United Kingdom\nfollowing the establishment of its sovereign UK XFAB manufacturing and support\nfacility in Swindon. The facility provides localized manufacturing,\nengineering and lifecycle support for the United Kingdom and allied defense\ncustomers as demand for sovereign autonomous capabilities continues to grow.\n\n\"Our collaboration with the British Army has progressed from an initial\nproof-of-concept demonstration to independent operational employment by\nfrontline soldiers,\" said Ofer Shahaf, General Manager of XTEND UK.\n\"Progressing to Ex RHINO BIZZ reflects the confidence built through close\ncollaboration with British defense stakeholders and our commitment to\nsupporting the long-term modernization of allied forces through sovereign\nautonomous capabilities.\"\n\n\nXTEND's SCORPIO 1000 is powered by the company's proprietary XTEND Operating\nSystem (XOS), an AI-driven autonomy platform that enables operators to execute\ncomplex missions with significantly reduced training requirements. The\nplatform combines autonomous navigation, human-guided autonomy, resilient\ncommunications and mission-adaptable payload integration to support operations\nin complex and contested environments, allowing operators to maintain mission\neffectiveness in rapidly evolving battlefield conditions.\n\nThe successful completion of Ex RHINO BIZZ marks another milestone in XTEND's\nlong-term collaboration with the British Army and reinforces the Company's\nposition as a provider of operationally validated AI-powered autonomous\nsystems supporting the modernization of allied defense forces.\n\n+++++\n\nTo sign up to receive press releases in real time, please visit ir.xtend.me\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=O69UM0xD_0MictkWDaggyN-OqJ-L0pz9O8jWCeiA09qXl4vW4dDf4sbXfzhB4zY6yj9rdBfiACkWpl6z5sE9fQ==).\n\n+++\n\nAs announced on February 17, 2026, JFB Construction Holdings (Nasdaq: JFB) and\nXTEND entered into a definitive agreement to combine with XTEND in an\nall-stock transaction. The business combination is further supported by\nstrategic investments from Eric Trump, Unusual Machines, American Ventures,\nLLC, Protego Ventures, and Aliya Capital. Following the closing of the\nbusiness combination, the joint company is expected to be renamed XTEND AI\nRobotics and be listed on a U.S. national securities exchange under the ticker\nsymbol “XTND.”\n\nForward-Looking Statements\n\nThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of\nthe Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking\nstatements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Xtend’s\nbacklog, sales pipeline, revenue projections, and business outlook. Such\nstatements are based on current expectations and assumptions and involve risks\nand uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from\nthose described. Xtend undertakes no obligation to update or revise any\nforward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future\nevents, or otherwise. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on\nthese forward-looking statements. For a discussion of the risks and\nuncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, please\nrefer to Xtend’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.\n\nAbout Xtend\n\nXTEND is a leader in software systems and artificial intelligence-powered\nrobotics, deployed in high-threat, complex operational environments where\nhuman exposure carries significant risk. Powered by its proprietary XTEND\nOperating System (XOS), XTEND’s integrated software and advanced robotic\nhardware solutions are designed to provide autonomy at the edge. Operating\nacross defense, law enforcement, and private security missions through a\nplatform of robots, drones, and robotic subsystems, XTEND’s open\narchitecture platform facilitates scalability across partners and third-party\napplications. With over 10,000 systems deployed in over 30 countries,\nXTEND’s solutions have been validated in five combat zones and operationally\ndeployed by national defense, special-mission units, and security\norganizations across the globe. Founded in Tel Aviv, Israel, and headquartered\nin Tampa, Florida, XTEND delivers NDAA-compliant solutions through a global\nnetwork of regional XFAB manufacturing facilities located in the U.S., the\nU.K., Singapore, Israel, and Latvia. For more information,\nvisit www.xtend.me.\n\nAbout JFB Construction Holdings\n\nJFB Construction Holdings (Nasdaq: JFB) is a real estate development and\nconstruction company that has provided general contracting and construction\nmanagement services in 36 U.S. states. For more information, visit the\ncompany’s SEC filings at www.sec.gov.\n\nImportant Information for Investors and Stockholders\n\nThis communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to,\nand does not, constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to\nbuy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there\nbe any issuance or sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer,\nsolicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification\nunder the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. In connection with the\ntransaction, NewCo and JFB filed a registration statement on Form S-4.\nInvestors and security holders are urged to read the information\nstatement/prospectus or registration statement and any other documents filed\nwith the SEC carefully and in their entirety when they become available.\nCopies of the documents filed with the SEC by JFB will be available free of\ncharge at www.sec.gov.\n\nJFB Construction Holdings Contact:\nCORE IR Mike Mason 516-222-2560 investors@jfbconstruction.net\n\nXTEND Media Contact:\nHeadline Media Sarah Small 929-255-1449 sarah@headline.media\n\nXTEND Investor Relations:\nMZ North America Shannon Devine 203-741-8811 XTND@mzgroup.us\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6fd94e26-0ec8-43f9-99b9-2f4311a14ec0)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026"},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-07-16T12:30:00.310550397Z","server_sent_at_ms":1784205000310},"received_at":"2026-07-16T12:30:00.411Z","source_url":"https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/07/16/3328428/0/en/XTEND-Supports-British-Army-During-Major-Autonomous-Strike-Exercise-Advancing-UK-Operational-Drone-Warfare-Capabilities.html"},"analysis":{"id":"79441","press_release_id":"90390","analysis_json":{"industry":null,"redFlags":[],"eventType":"operations_update","narrative":"XTEND, the pending merger target of JFB Construction Holdings, successfully supported the British Army during Ex RHINO BIZZ, marking the first validation of long-range autonomous strike missions with live kinetic payloads.\n\nDuring the exercise, soldiers from 2 PARA independently operated five SCORPIO 1000 systems to engage targets at ranges up to 7.5 kilometers under GNSS-denied conditions.\n\nThis milestone underscores XTEND's shift from technology demonstrations to operational capability and supports its sovereign expansion strategy in the UK.","sentiment":"bullish","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"XTEND validates live-fire autonomous strike capability for British Army, bolstering JFB merger case."},"keyFigures":{"customDimensions":{"countries_active":30,"systems_deployed":5,"training_area_km2":2700,"target_distances_km":[3.6,6.5,7.5],"soldiers_participating":350,"global_systems_deployed":10000}},"quotedText":"Military advantage will increasingly belong to forces capable of integrating software-defined autonomy into everyday operations.","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Aviv Shapira","role":"Co-Founder and CEO of XTEND"},{"name":"Ofer Shahaf","role":"General Manager of XTEND UK"}],"products":["SCORPIO 1000","XTEND Operating System (XOS)"],"companies":[{"name":"XTEND","relationship":"partner/target"},{"name":"British Army","relationship":"partner/customer"},{"name":"2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment (2 PARA)","relationship":"partner/unit"},{"name":"16 Air Assault Brigade","relationship":"partner/unit"},{"name":"British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS)","relationship":"partner/location"},{"name":"Eric Trump","relationship":"investor"},{"name":"Unusual Machines","relationship":"investor"},{"name":"American Ventures, LLC","relationship":"investor"},{"name":"Protego Ventures","relationship":"investor"},{"name":"Aliya Capital","relationship":"investor"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"materialImpact":{"score":2,"reasoning":"Operational validation milestone for XTEND (JFB's pending merger target) involving live-fire autonomous strikes with the British Army. While strategically significant for the business combination's thesis, no financial terms or revenue impact were disclosed."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"JFB"},"globalImportance":20,"audienceRelevance":15,"eventTypeSecondary":["partnership"],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"micro_cap","eventGravity":"operational_milestone","mergerStatus":"pending"}},"event_type":"operations_update","event_type_secondary":["partnership"],"sentiment":"bullish","material_impact_score":2,"narrative":"XTEND, the pending merger target of JFB Construction Holdings, successfully supported the British Army during Ex RHINO BIZZ, marking the first validation of long-range autonomous strike missions with live kinetic payloads.\n\nDuring the exercise, soldiers from 2 PARA independently operated five SCORPIO 1000 systems to engage targets at ranges up to 7.5 kilometers under GNSS-denied conditions.\n\nThis milestone underscores XTEND's shift from technology demonstrations to operational capability and supports its sovereign expansion strategy in the UK.","key_figures":{"customDimensions":{"countries_active":30,"systems_deployed":5,"training_area_km2":2700,"target_distances_km":[3.6,6.5,7.5],"soldiers_participating":350,"global_systems_deployed":10000}},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Aviv Shapira","role":"Co-Founder and CEO of XTEND"},{"name":"Ofer Shahaf","role":"General Manager of XTEND UK"}],"products":["SCORPIO 1000","XTEND Operating System (XOS)"],"companies":[{"name":"XTEND","relationship":"partner/target"},{"name":"British Army","relationship":"partner/customer"},{"name":"2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment (2 PARA)","relationship":"partner/unit"},{"name":"16 Air Assault Brigade","relationship":"partner/unit"},{"name":"British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS)","relationship":"partner/location"},{"name":"Eric Trump","relationship":"investor"},{"name":"Unusual Machines","relationship":"investor"},{"name":"American Ventures, LLC","relationship":"investor"},{"name":"Protego Ventures","relationship":"investor"},{"name":"Aliya Capital","relationship":"investor"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"model_name":"glm-4.7","prompt_hash":"sha256:727b4b9429a443af","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-07-16T14:18:02.951Z","global_importance":20,"audience_relevance":15,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"micro_cap","eventGravity":"operational_milestone","mergerStatus":"pending"}},"durationMs":218424,"modelName":"glm-4.7"}}