Elbit Systems has acquired Bluewhite, an Israeli developer of AI-powered autonomous vehicle technology, in a strategic move aimed at strengthening its capabilities in robotics, autonomous systems and next-generation defense technologies. The acquisition was completed through Elbit’s subsidiary FUSE, adding Bluewhite’s proven autonomy platform to Elbit’s growing portfolio of unmanned solutions for military, security and industrial applications.
The deal represents another step in the rapid evolution of the defense sector, where artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles and robotics are becoming increasingly important on modern battlefields. While the financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed, the acquisition highlights Elbit’s focus on expanding its role in the global autonomous defense market.
Founded in 2017 by Ben Alfi, Yair Shahar and Aviram Shmueli, Bluewhite developed technologies designed to transform conventional vehicles into fully autonomous machines. Its flagship products include Pathfinder, a retrofit autonomy kit that allows vehicles to operate without human drivers, and Compass, a cloud-based platform used to manage and coordinate fleets of autonomous vehicles.
One of the company’s key strengths is the maturity of its technology. Bluewhite reports that its systems have accumulated more than 100,000 hours of autonomous operation across agricultural and defense-related environments. This operational experience has helped position the company as one of Israel’s most advanced developers of practical autonomy solutions.
The acquisition also brings valuable expertise in fleet management, data analytics and remote operations. These capabilities are expected to support Elbit’s broader strategy of integrating manned and unmanned systems across multiple operational domains, including land and air platforms.
Bluewhite originally built its technology for the agricultural sector, where autonomous tractors were used to automate activities such as seeding, spraying and harvesting. Over time, the company expanded its platform beyond farming applications, demonstrating how technologies developed for civilian industries can be adapted to defense and security environments.
According to Eyal Dahan, CEO of FUSE, autonomous systems are transforming military operations worldwide. He stated that robotics capabilities are becoming essential for modern armed forces and described Bluewhite’s platform as an important addition to Elbit’s ecosystem of autonomous technologies.
Bluewhite CEO Ben Alfi said the acquisition opens a new chapter for the company and will allow its technology to scale more rapidly across defense, security and industrial sectors. He emphasized that the company’s mission has always been to bring practical autonomy into real-world operations and that Elbit’s experience will help accelerate that vision.
The acquisition comes at a time when global demand for AI-powered defense technologies continues to rise. Governments and military organizations are increasingly investing in autonomous vehicles, robotic systems and advanced decision-support platforms to improve operational efficiency and reduce risks to personnel.
With this move, Elbit strengthens its position in a market where artificial intelligence and autonomous systems are expected to play a central role in the future of defense operations. The integration of Bluewhite’s technology could help accelerate the deployment of autonomous solutions across a wider range of military and industrial applications.