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Elsight, a technology firm based in Or Yehuda, was named this week as one of six companies selected by the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) for further evaluation in Project G.I.
By Shula Rosen
An Israeli tech company is stepping deeper into one of the Pentagon’s most ambitious drone-warfare projects.
Elsight, a communications technology firm from Or Yehuda, has been chosen by the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to move into the next round of testing for Project G.I., a major effort to help American troops operate autonomous systems when communications are disrupted.
Elsight is one of six companies selected this week, placing it in a small group of U.S. and international developers whose technologies will now be tried directly in the field by American military units. DIU said the companies advanced based on the strength of their test results, the maturity of their technology, and how closely their capabilities match what U.S. forces need.
Project G.I. focuses on a challenge frequently faced by small combat teams: operating in places where networks fail, GPS signals drop, or enemy forces deliberately jam communications.
The next phase of the program, known as Design Reference Mission 2, will test whether each system can help troops gather information, track targets, and stay alive in those conditions.
Elsight specializes in keeping unmanned systems connected when everything else goes dark. Its Halo platform merges multiple communication channels into a single, steady link, giving drones and ground robots constant connectivity even in heavily contested areas. With the company now approved for the next stage, U.S. units will put the technology through real combat-style trials.
The Pentagon’s push comes after a directive from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who ordered a rapid acceleration of U.S. drone capabilities and stronger partnerships with commercial tech firms. DIU’s approach—testing competing systems directly with field operators—is meant to shrink the gap between prototype and actual deployment.
Alongside Elsight, the Pentagon also selected Chariot Defense, CX2, Purple Rhombus, Quantum Systems, and Skydio. All six will enter the upcoming evaluation cycle, where officials will decide which systems should move closer to frontline use.
Project G.I. is part of a broader DIU strategy to funnel cutting-edge commercial innovations into the U.S. military more quickly, as Washington works to maintain an edge in drone warfare and autonomous combat technologies.
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