The New Resilience of Communication

Current conflicts are not only transforming the nature of warfare at a breathtaking pace; they are also calling into question long-held operational principles. In particular, the widespread use of remote-controlled weapon systems equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) is fundamentally altering operational strategy: On a “transparent” battlefield, where the brief window between reconnaissance and engagement leaves no room for movement, “death zones” are forming. Elsewhere, low-cost drones overwhelm air defense systems to strike cities and critical infrastructure. These scenarios illustrate that resilient beyond-line-of-sight connectivity, combined with AI-enabled autonomy, has become an operational reality.

“Communication is a key element that has not yet been fully understood in its new dimension,” explains Tobias Willuhn, Business Director for Germany/EU and NATO at the Israeli deep-tech startup ELSIGHT. “Because secure, resilient, and reliable communication is the fundamental prerequisite for any success on the battlefields of the present and the future,” says Willuhn.

Current operational scenarios highlight three core capabilities as the focus of future communication solutions:

1. Electromagnetic resilience and active signal protection

In “peer-to-peer” scenarios against an adversary operating at the same technological level, electronic warfare (EW) measures are ubiquitous. Communication links must not only be robust and resilient against jamming by enemy EC units; they must also increasingly counteract identification and localization by enemy intelligence forces (COMINT/SIGINT). To do so, they must actively conceal their own signature to prevent reconnaissance and targeted attacks on the transmission site.

2. Long-range BVLOS connectivity on an industrial scale

Due to the widespread and long-range deployment of armed UAVs—from FPV drones to autonomous long-range platforms—ever-greater distances must be reliably bridged. BVLOS connectivity is therefore not an option, but the only realistic solution. If the connection is lost over this area, the drones are lost—and this may jeopardize the entire mission.

3. Real-time data fusion and multi-domain interoperability

The mass deployment of autonomous systems and the continuous shortening of the kill chain place unprecedented demands on bandwidth, latency, and data throughput. The communication infrastructure that carries these data streams is the most strategically vulnerable component of the entire network.

This is where the “HALO” solution from Elsight comes in, a company currently expanding its business in the field of resilient communication worldwide. Elsight utilizes the entire spectrum of available signal sources—direct radio (P2P/LOS SDR), cellular/mobile networks (LTE/5G), and LEO satellites (e.g., Starlink, OneWeb, etc.). Using a high-performance algorithm and AI support, the solution optimally manages both the selection of sources and the routing of data flow in real time, in accordance with the specifications of the respective mission profile.

“The sweet spot of the solution is clearly its robust connectivity beyond line of sight, even in ‘contested’—that is, particularly challenging—electromagnetic scenarios, such as those found in current war zones. Not only is resilience against jamming a decisive advantage, but so is the ability to mask one’s own communications within the conventional radio frequency spectrum,” explains Tobias Willuhn. He continues: “Operational experience and direct feedback from global deployment areas provide us with the necessary impetus to continuously and agilely refine our solutions. Our ability to execute rapid iteration and optimization cycles is something we are justifiably proud of. It also forms the foundation for entering into long-term collaborations and partnerships with OEMs, technology, and platform providers in Germany, the EU, and NATO countries, and for jointly equipping the armed forces of our democratic nations with the means for credible and successful deterrence.”

First HALO Boards for Germany

Elsight has already initiated production of the first “Made in Germany” HALO boards and is rapidly advancing the establishment of an independent representative office in Germany. This is expected to be set up in southern Germany and opened later in 2026, enabling the company to meet domestic demand for commercially available systems based on resilient supply chains.

ELSIGHT (ASX:ELS) was founded in 2009 and delivers “Connection Confidence” through proprietary connectivity technology that encompasses both software and hardware elements, enabling reliable, secure, high-bandwidth communication. With innovative options such as a card weighing less than 100 grams or a box version for ground-based use, the Halo connectivity platform offers continuous connectivity even in the most demanding environments for stationary, portable, or highly mobile deployment requirements. Elsight’s products serve many vertical markets that utilize UAV and UAS technologies, including military, public safety, delivery services, healthcare, utilities, inspections, surveillance, and others. For more information, visit www.elsight.com

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