St. Louis’ WingXpand Takes Flight as a U.S. Drone Industry Leader

• September 04, 2025

Missouri-Based WingXpand Leading the Way in U.S. Drone Technology, Workforce Development, and Strategic Partnerships

A St. Louis company is shaping the future of American drone technology—one backpack-sized aircraft at a time. WingXpand, recognized for its innovative, low-profile, modular “smart planes,” is emerging as a national leader through major government contracts, strategic partnerships, and workforce development initiatives rooted in Missouri. Delivering advanced solutions for the defense, agriculture, public safety, and survey and inspection industries, WingXpand is helping these sectors operate with greater efficiency, accuracy, and reliability.

WingXpand recently secured multimillion-dollar contracts with U.S. Special Operations, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy, and other civilian customers. These wins align with a broader federal effort to boost U.S.-based drone manufacturing and reduce dependency on foreign-made technology. In fact, the White House recently announced a push for “American drone dominance,” underscoring the strategic importance of companies like WingXpand in achieving that goal.

At the heart of WingXpand’s operations is a strong partnership with Ranken Technical College in north St. Louis, where the company is headquartered. The two are working together to advance drone maintenance, workforce training, and domestic production. This collaboration is not only focused on innovation but also on equipping the next generation of drone technicians to meet growing industry demand. The effort is designed to make WingXpand drones easier to maintain in the field, critical for widespread military and civilian adoption.

WingXpand’s momentum isn’t limited to federal contracts. The company was recently approved to supply drones to the State of Montana as more states look to transition to domestically produced technologies. Across the U.S., government leaders and states are increasingly turning to trusted American-made drones like WingXpand to strengthen national security and support domestic innovation.

As WingXpand continues to grow its footprint, Missouri is quickly becoming a hub for next-generation aerospace technology, advanced manufacturing, and workforce development. Through strong industry-academic partnerships and a commitment to innovation, WingXpand is not just building drones, it’s helping build the future of American aerospace.

Learn more about Missouri’s rich history in aerospace manufacturing.