Israeli defense company advances to final phase of Pentagon’s 'Project G.I.' drone challenge

Elsight, an Israeli defense technology company, was one of six firms chosen by the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) this week to advance to Phase 3 of the Project G.I., Design Reference Mission 2 Prize Challenge (DRM2).

Project G.I. is an initiative launched by the Pentagon to accelerate drone capabilities for small combat units operating in zones where communication is challenged or denied.

Based in Or Yehuda, Israel, Elsight's Halo platform focuses on providing connectivity for unmanned aerial and ground vehicles to operate beyond the pilot's direct line of sight using its signature multi-network communications platform, including cellular, satellite and RF/radio.

Evaluators were impressed with Elsight’s performance during Phase 2 of the challenge, where the company’s technology demonstrated capability in complex environments, including withstanding jamming and other electronic warfare methods.

Five other firms were selected for the program, including Chariot Defense, CX2, Purple Rhombus, Quantum Systems and Skydio. The factors involved in their selection included field performance, technical maturity and alignment with operational needs, according to the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU).

All six companies will progress into the next round of evaluation, where their technology systems will undergo advanced testing by U.S. military units for mission effectiveness and transition potential.

The Pentagon’s initiative in defense technology, known as Design Reference Mission 2, follows an order issued by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to scale up drone superiority.

According to DIU Director Doug Beck, the goal of Project G.I. is to deliver military equipment to operators more quickly by first running it in a live operational test environment, giving users a chance to “test, plan and learn” and provide feedback that can be quickly implemented and re-tested.

The DIU issued a solicitation for Project G.I. earlier this year, calling for companies to propose “ready-now” uncrewed systems that could enhance the effectiveness of small military units operating in low-bandwidth environments where there are disrupted or denied communications.