This article is based on an official press release from XTI Aerospace.

XTI Aerospace Pivots to Drone Market, Reduces Spending on TriFan 600 VTOL Program

XTI Aerospace (Nasdaq: XTIA) has officially announced a fundamental transformation of its business strategy, shifting its primary focus from the capital-intensive development of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft to the immediate revenue potential of the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) market. In a letter to shareholders issued on January 20, 2026, CEO Scott Pomeroy detailed the company’s acquisition of Drones Nerds, LLC, and the subsequent restructuring of its priorities.

The strategic pivot comes as the company seeks to stabilize its financial foundation. According to the shareholder letter, XTI Aerospace will direct its near-term resources toward scaling Drone Nerds, a U.S.-based provider of enterprise drone solutions acquired in November 2025. Consequently, the company is significantly reducing expenditure on its long-standing TriFan 600 aircraft program.

This move transitions XTI from a pre-revenue development stage company into an operation generating substantial income. The company reported that Drone Nerds generated over $100 million in revenue in 2024, a figure that stands in stark contrast to XTI’s historical financial profile.

Acquisition of Drone Nerds and Financial Impact

The centerpiece of XTI’s new strategy is the integration of Drone Nerds, which XTI acquired for approximately $40 million. In his letter, Pomeroy highlighted the financial logic behind the deal, noting that the purchase price represented a multiple of less than 0.4x the subsidiary’s annualized 2025 revenue.

Drone Nerds founders Jeremy Schneiderman and Alex Nafissy have joined XTI to lead the subsidiary’s daily operations. The acquisition has already impacted market perception; the company noted that its market capitalization rebounded from under $10 million in April 2025 to nearly $65 million as of January 16, 2026. On that same date, XTI shares closed at $1.88.

Additionally, the company secured a private placement investment from Unusual Machines Inc., a manufacturer of drone components compliant with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This partnership is expected to bolster XTI’s position in the domestic drone market.

Future of the TriFan 600 Program

For years, XTI Aerospace was defined by its ambition to certify the TriFan 600, a fixed-wing VTOL aircraft designed to combine the speed of a business jet with the versatility of a helicopter. However, the new strategic direction places this program in a holding pattern.

The CEO stated that spending on the TriFan 600 will be reduced to the “lowest practical level.” The company intends to preserve the program’s intellectual property and certification capabilities but will not prioritize it for capital allocation in the near term. Pomeroy addressed the future of the aircraft in his letter:

“Our goal is to evaluate non-dilutive funding or strategic opportunities to unlock the aircraft program’s value in the future without draining current cash reserves.”

This decision reflects the high capital requirements and long development timelines associated with certifying new manned aircraft, a challenge that has affected the broader VTOL sector.

Regulatory Tailwinds: The FCC Ban

The timing of XTI’s pivot coincides with significant regulatory changes in the United States. On December 22, 2025, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) added foreign-made drones and components to its “Covered List.” This action prohibits new equipment authorizations for affected foreign manufacturers, effectively preventing them from marketing new models in the U.S.

XTI Aerospace views this regulatory landscape as a major opportunity. As a U.S.-based provider with established domestic supply chains, Drone Nerds is positioned to capture market share vacated by banned foreign competitors. The company aims to leverage this “FCC Ban” to expand its footprint in sectors such as public safety, energy, construction, and government services.

AirPro News Analysis

The strategic pivot by XTI Aerospace illustrates a growing trend in the advanced air mobility sector: funding fatigue. Developing clean-sheet VTOL aircraft requires billions of dollars and years of certification work with no guarantee of success. By acquiring a revenue-positive entity like Drone Nerds, XTI has effectively bought itself a lifeline, moving away from the “cash burn” model typical of eVTOL startups.

While the TriFan 600 remains technically on the books, the language regarding “lowest practical level” spending suggests it is effectively dormant until external funding appears. This pragmatic shift may serve as a blueprint for other struggling aerospace developers looking to survive in a capital-constrained environment.

Sources

Sources: XTI Aerospace CEO Letter to Shareholders (PR Newswire)