ELS (ASX) Elsight team growing
Elsight, traded on the ASX as ELS, operates in a focused corner of the defense and robotics market: resilient, multi-channel connectivity for drones and other unmanned systems. Meanwhile, Anduril’s work on the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) is centered on augmented and virtual reality hardware and software for soldiers. Despite both companies touching the defense-tech ecosystem, there is currently no clear, public pathway that links progress on IVAS to immediate upside for Elsight.
Distinct lanes: drone data pipes vs. soldier headsets
Elsight’s value proposition lies in creating robust “pipes” for data—combining cellular, RF, and satellite links to keep unmanned platforms connected in contested or complex environments. That’s crucial for beyond-visual-line-of-sight missions, where uptime and low latency can make or break a sortie.
IVAS, by contrast, is all about the soldier’s perspective: heads-up displays, thermal and night vision overlays, and an AR-driven common operating picture. It’s a frontline wearable computing stack with strict requirements around ergonomics, power, and security. While both domains rely on dependable communications, they serve different users and procurement channels.
Potential bridges—what would need to happen
- Partnerships with integrators: Elsight could align with a prime contractor or systems integrator working on soldier systems, providing secure, bonded comms as a module within a larger IVAS-like ecosystem.
- Adaptation for wearables: Current drone-centric hardware might need to be miniaturized or re-architected to fit headset or body-worn constraints while maintaining throughput and resilience.
- Compliance and accreditation: Any move into soldier-worn systems would require rigorous security certifications, hardened software stacks, and alignment with military networking standards.
- Field validation: Live trials and user evaluations would be essential to prove that a connectivity layer meaningfully enhances AR/VR soldier workflows without adding weight or complexity.
Why IVAS momentum doesn’t equal immediate ELS impact
At present, there has been no public indication of Elsight participating in the IVAS program or supplying components to it. In defense procurement, supply chains can be locked in early, and adding new vendors often requires long testing cycles. Without official announcements—such as contract awards, integration milestones, or joint demos—there’s no transparent basis to assume direct benefit to ELS from IVAS developments.
This doesn’t preclude future collaboration. It simply means the market shouldn’t treat IVAS updates as a proxy for Elsight’s revenue or backlog unless the companies—or their partners—say so.
The AR/VR angle: where communications meet immersion
For AR/VR systems to reach their potential in the field, they need reliable, secure connectivity for real-time maps, sensor fusion, and off-board intelligence. That’s where a specialist like Elsight could one day intersect: piping drone video, ISR feeds, or mission data into a soldier’s headset through a resilient comms layer. The concept is strategically appealing, but translating it into production requires the technical and procurement steps outlined above.
What to watch next
- Announcements about integrations with soldier systems, wearable computing platforms, or defense primes.
- Demonstrations that link drone feeds to AR interfaces in live exercises.
- Regulatory or accreditation milestones that make wearable deployments feasible.
- Requests for proposals or pilot programs that explicitly call for bonded communications within AR/VR soldier kits.
Bottom line
Elsight remains a specialist in connecting unmanned platforms, while IVAS focuses on enhancing the warfighter’s view through AR/VR. There’s no confirmed, public pathway tying IVAS progress to near-term gains for ELS. Any convergence would likely come through formal partnerships, component supply agreements, or technology adaptation aimed at wearable systems. Until such signals materialize, investors and observers should treat the two stories as adjacent—but not yet intertwined.
