XMX Defense marked the beginning of its Mineral Wells operations with a groundbreaking ceremony on 3 October 2026 at Mineral Wells Regional Airport, Texas, where the defence technology company is now underway with construction and buildout of existing airport facilities for unmanned aircraft assembly, integration, engineering, maintenance, training and flight operations.

The ceremony brought together XMX leadership with state and local officials, as well as county and civic leaders from across Palo Pinto and Parker counties, followed by a reception at the Crazy Water Hotel. XMX Defense is developing a portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems ranging from smaller tactical systems to the ROGUE 450, a hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft designed for longer-endurance missions.

“Most of us in the company are veterans of some kind,” said Clay Kroschel, co-founder and CEO of XMX Defense. “We have decades of experience across the military, aviation, and unmanned systems, and we’ve built XMX around a mission to provide the technology and capabilities that help bring our men and women home safe. We’re honoured to do that work in a community like Mineral Wells, with such a strong defence aviation history.”

A SITE WITH A DEFENCE AVIATION HISTORY

Mineral Wells was once home to Fort Wolters, a major US Army helicopter training centre during the Vietnam era, and the Texas Army National Guard still maintains a training area on part of that site, where air-supported exercises continue today.

“There’s a real through-line in Mineral Wells’ aviation history,” said Mayor Pro Tem Beth Watson. “This community helped train a generation of helicopter pilots when vertical flight was changing the way the Army operated. Decades later, the next generation of vertical flight technology is coming to our airport through unmanned aircraft. We’re proud to welcome XMX and excited to see these facilities put back to work.”

“Mineral Wells sits in a unique position,” said Chris Strayer, executive director of the Parker County Economic Development Council. “It’s connected to the aerospace and defence strength of North Texas, but it also has the space and infrastructure to grow something of its own. We’ve seen in other parts of the country how one unmanned-aircraft company can become the nucleus for a broader cluster of suppliers, manufacturers, engineers, and technology companies. As that kind of momentum builds here, the benefits could extend across western North Texas, from Possum Kingdom to Fort Worth.”

XMX is also establishing the Texas Unmanned Systems Defense Center of Excellence, an initiative intended to bring defence and unmanned-systems companies together around shared infrastructure, collaboration and operations. The company said it is in discussions with additional firms interested in joining the Center.