XCraft

XCraft is an American company that designs and manufactures unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for enterprise, military, and public safety clients. The company's business model includes both developing new UAV solutions for customers on a contract basis and selling its own proprietary products. Its revenue is generated through two main channels: custom development and direct sales, with a primary focus on B2B and B2G (business-to-government) transactions.

The company was founded in 2013 by JD Claridge and Charles Manning. Claridge, the company's CEO, had a passion for flight from a young age, studying aerospace and electrical engineering and later working in the aviation industry for over a decade. This background inspired the creation of XCraft. The company's first product was the XPlusOne, a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft that could transition to high-speed horizontal flight. A successful Kickstarter campaign in 2015 and a subsequent appearance on the TV show *Shark Tank*, where they received a deal from all five investors, brought the company significant media attention, though the deal ultimately did not close. The exposure helped XCraft raise over $4.4 million through crowdfunding, enabling a strategic shift from consumer products to the commercial and military sectors.

XCraft offers a range of drones with specific applications. Products include the PANADRONE, an autonomous tethered drone-in-a-box for long-duration surveillance; the MATRIX series for mapping, inspection, and search and rescue; and the NANO, a small tactical drone with thermal imaging. These drones are designed for industries such as public safety, defense, surveying, construction, and energy. The firm develops its technology, including patented systems, to address challenges in flight time, payload capacity, and autonomous operation. The company also has ambitions in the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) market.

Keywords: unmanned aerial systems, UAS, commercial drones, military drones, VTOL aircraft, public safety drones, drone manufacturing, aerial surveillance, drone mapping, autonomous flight, drone technology, tethered drones, tactical drones, reconnaissance drones, US drone company, defense applications, enterprise drones, surveying drones, inspection drones, search and rescue drones