Xwing
Xwing develops a modular autonomous flight stack (Superpilot) enabling uncrewed aircraft operations with ground-based remote supervision for aircraft operators, manufacturers, and U.S. defense customers; its autonomy division was acquired by Joby Aviation in June 2024.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Xwing does
Xwing is an autonomous aviation company developing a modular, platform-agnostic autonomy stack for uncrewed aircraft operations in aviation and defense. Its core product is the Xwing Autonomous Flight System, built around the proprietary "Superpilot" technology, which removes the onboard pilot entirely by enabling ground-based remote supervision from a control station while the aircraft operates fully self-sufficiently across takeoff, navigation, and landing. The system is designed as a modular architecture that can be retrofitted into existing aircraft or integrated into novel platforms, and is also intended to improve safety in conventionally piloted aircraft. Xwing is the first Standard Category large unmanned aerial system (UAS) to receive an official FAA project designation, a regulatory milestone that anchors its certification pathway for large uncrewed commercial operations.
The company serves three customer segments: aircraft operators (commercial and private), aircraft manufacturers, and defense and government agencies, with the latter including the U.S. Air Force and broader Department of Defense. Defense use cases include autonomous cargo delivery, ISR, medivac, aerial firefighting, and dynamic retasking, with over 7,000 miles and 40 flight hours logged during the Air Force's Resolute Force Pacific exercise. The business model is B2B licensing and integration, with direct enterprise sales to aerospace manufacturers, aircraft operators, and government/defense partners under quote-based pricing.
In June 2024, Joby Aviation (NYSE: JOBY) acquired Xwing's autonomy division for approximately $50 million, integrating the Superpilot technology into Joby's electric air taxi program. The parent Xwing Inc. entity retained its operational footprint and in October 2024 acquired Martinaire, an aviation/cargo operator, expanding into vertically integrated air cargo services. The xwing.com domain now redirects to Joby Aviation, reflecting operational integration of the autonomy franchise.
Xwing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Xwing
- Legal name
- Xwing Inc.
- Website
- https://xwing.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Xwing develops a modular autonomous flight stack (Superpilot) enabling uncrewed aircraft operations with ground-based remote supervision for aircraft operators, manufacturers, and U.S. defense customers; its autonomy division was acquired by Joby Aviation in June 2024.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Xwing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Autonomous Aviation Technology
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV) (IMABAIAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Autonomous Flight Control & Guidance Systems (UAS/Urban Air Mobility) (IMABAFAO), Military Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) & Autonomous Aerial Platforms (IMABAMAC), Aerial Robotics (Drones & UAV Autonomy) (HDAAAIAG)
Keywords
Where Xwing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Xwing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Autonomy Technology Licensing and Integration: Xwing supplies modular autonomy technology to aircraft operators, aerospace manufacturers, and defense partners. Revenue is generated through technology licensing, integration services, and potentially ongoing support contracts for certified flight systems.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Xwing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Xwing develops a modular autonomous flight system ("Superpilot") that enables aircraft to fly fully autonomously under ground-based remote pilot supervision. The technology is delivered as an autonomy kit that integrates perception, flight planning, control, detect-and-avoid, and ground control station capabilities, targeted at aircraft manufacturers, cargo/regional operators, and defense customers.
Product overview
Xwing offers a single unified autonomous flight system platform for aviation and defense applications. The modular technology is designed to be platform-agnostic, enabling integration into any aircraft type (existing or novel designs), and can be retrofitted or customized. The system enables fully autonomous aircraft operations with ground-based pilot supervision, and all technology is applicable to improve safety in both piloted and autonomous aircraft.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Xwing Autonomous Flight System (Superpilot) Modular autonomous flight software stack that performs perception, flight planning, control, and detect-and-avoid functions, enabling fully autonomous aircraft operations under ground-based remote pilot supervision. Sold to aircraft manufacturers, cargo/regional operators, and government/defense customers.
- Autonomy Retrofit Kit (Cessana Caravan) Hardware-and-software autonomy kit that retrofits existing Cessna Caravan fixed-wing aircraft with the Superpilot stack, sensors, and control system to enable autonomous cargo flight. Targeted at cargo operators and government/defense users.
- Ground Control Station Integrated ground-based control station that allows remote pilots to supervise and manage multiple autonomous aircraft missions from the ground, supporting the Xwing autonomous flight system. Sold to operators and government/defense customers operating autonomous fleets.
- Autonomy Integration & Engineering Services Engineering services that help aircraft manufacturers, modifiers, and defense customers integrate the Superpilot autonomy stack into their platforms, including certification support, custom adaptation, and program execution.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 7,000 miles and 40 flight hours logged during U.S. Air Force Resolute Force Pacific exercise
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Xwing
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Xwing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature3 records
Xwing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Joby AviationcoreXwing's autonomy division was acquired by Joby Aviation in June 2024. Joby acquired Xwing's autonomy technology including Superpilot to enhance its electric air taxi initiatives with advanced autonomous flight capabilities. Xwing continues to operate as a subsidiary/division under Joby Aviation.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Xwing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Reliable Robotics: Reliable Robotics develops autonomous flight systems for fixed-wing cargo aircraft with remote supervision, closely mirroring Xwing's Superpilot concept and targeting similar regional cargo and Part 23 aircraft operators.
- Merlin Labs: Merlin Labs builds autonomy software for fixed-wing aircraft with a focus on FAA certification and pilot-supervised operations, a near-identical value proposition and target customer base to Xwing.
Broad incumbents
- Joby Aviation: Joby Aviation is Xwing's parent post-acquisition and a publicly-traded eVTOL developer integrating Xwing's Superpilot into its air taxi platform — a direct downstream consumer of the autonomy technology.
- Anduril Industries: Anduril is a well-capitalized defense technology company building autonomous aerial systems (e.g., Bolt, Roadrunner) and AI mission software that competes with Xwing for DoD autonomous aviation programs.
- General Atomics Aeronautical Systems: General Atomics is the established manufacturer of large military UAS (Predator, Reaper) with deep DoD relationships and increasingly autonomous flight capabilities, representing both a competitor and potential integration partner for Xwing's technology.
- Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman manufactures large autonomous military UAS (Global Hawk, MQ-4C Triton) and integrates advanced flight autonomy, competing for the same large UAS autonomy and DoD program dollars as Xwing.
- L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris is a major defense prime developing autonomous and unmanned aerial systems alongside avionics, representing a large incumbent competitor and potential acquisition partner for autonomous flight IP.
Emerging players
- Shield AI: Shield AI develops AI pilots for autonomous aircraft (notably the V-BAT) and pursues DoD autonomy contracts, overlapping with Xwing's defense ISR and autonomous flight focus.
- Skydio: Skydio is a leading autonomous drone manufacturer focused on small UAS for defense and commercial markets; while smaller scale, it shares Xwing's AI-driven autonomy DNA and competes in adjacent autonomy segments.
Regional players
- Wisk Aero: Wisk Aero (a Boeing subsidiary) is developing autonomous eVTOL air taxi services, overlapping with Xwing's autonomous flight vision in the urban air mobility segment.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Xwing social profiles
Digital presenceXwing compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Xwing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Xwing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Xwing subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Xwing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors12 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Xwing M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Xwing
What does Xwing do?
Xwing develops a modular autonomous flight system ("Superpilot") that enables aircraft to fly fully autonomously under ground-based remote pilot supervision. The technology is delivered as an autonomy kit that integrates perception, flight planning, control, detect-and-avoid, and ground control station capabilities, targeted at aircraft manufacturers, cargo/regional operators, and defense customers.
Is Xwing a public or private company?
Xwing is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Xwing founded?
Xwing was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Xwing based?
Xwing is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Xwing make money?
One revenue line is on record: autonomy Technology Licensing and Integration.
Who are Xwing's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Reliable Robotics and Merlin Labs. Broad incumbents are Joby Aviation, Anduril Industries, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Northrop Grumman and L3Harris Technologies. Emerging players are Shield AI and Skydio. Wisk Aero is listed as a regional player.
Does Xwing have an API?
No public API is recorded for Xwing.
What industry is Xwing in?
Xwing's product category is Autonomous Aviation Technology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAIAH, Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV), with a secondary code of IMABAFAO, Autonomous Flight Control & Guidance Systems (UAS/Urban Air Mobility). Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3812.