By Arie Egozi, Autonomy Global – Ambassador for Israel
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and Israeli tactical robotics company XTEND have executed a major step forward in joint all-domain command and control (JADC2) by integrating the XTEND Operating System (XOS) into Skunk Works’ MDCX autonomy platform. The collaboration is designed to give a single operator intuitive command and control (C2) of multiple classes of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) which will improve situational awareness and accelerate decision-making across the battlespace.
In a November demonstration, the partners showcased an integrated Multi-Class MDCX (MC‑MDCX) workstation supporting a “marsupial” drone mission, in which a larger UAS delivered a smaller Class 1 drone to execute a close‑in task. Unlike traditional constructs that require a handoff from the operator of the larger aircraft to another operator managing the smaller drone, the integrated XOS–MDCX stack allowed one operator to control both the delivery platform and the close‑in asset from a single interface.
Previously, lower‑tier operators were responsible for Class 1 and 2 drones using first‑person views, mark‑and‑fly commands, and immersive environments to carry out detailed mission tasks. By consolidating those workflows, the demonstration showed a clear reduction in total manpower required for complex mission execution and removed the friction and latency associated with mission handoffs, while improving overall situational awareness across the mission space.
XTEND is widely fielded as a provider of combat‑proven drone C2 solutions, with systems deployed by militaries worldwide for contested and GPS‑denied environments. Its XOS architecture enables a layered response and operational step‑down process which maintains platform control even when GPS is jammed or radio‑frequency datalinks are degraded, and allows new operators to reach near expert‑level proficiency with significantly reduced training time.
For Skunk Works, the collaboration aligns with a broader push to advance manned–unmanned teaming, compress data‑to‑decision timelines and enhance pilot and operator safety in high‑end threat environments. Lockheed Martin and XTEND are now exploring how the integrated XOS–MDCX approach can further support JADC2 decision loops and next‑generation autonomous systems. This signals additional demonstrations and operational concepts to come.