An Israeli defense technology company was among six firms selected by the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit this week to advance in a Pentagon project aimed at accelerating drone capabilities for small combat units operating in denied environments.
Elsight, headquartered in Or Yehuda, was named alongside five U.S. and international companies in the latest phase of Project G.I., a Department of War effort to improve battlefield sensing, targeting and survivability in areas with limited communications or GPS access.
The selection moves the companies into the next round of evaluation, where their systems will undergo further testing by U.S. military units for mission effectiveness and transition potential.
Elsight specializes in secure connectivity solutions for unmanned aerial and ground vehicles. Its flagship Halo platform enables constant, multi-network communications — a key capability for drone operations in contested environments.
The challenge, known formally as Design Reference Mission 2, supports the Pentagon’s push to accelerate battlefield innovation through closer collaboration with commercial tech developers. The initiative follows a directive issued by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to expand U.S. drone superiority.
Other selected firms include Chariot Defense, CX2, Purple Rhombus, Quantum Systems and Skydio. The Defense Innovation Unit said companies were chosen based on field performance, technical maturity and alignment with operational needs.
Project G.I. is one of several efforts by DIU to fast-track commercially available solutions into the hands of U.S. warfighters.