DoD Picks ELTA North America to Evaluate M3S2 Sensor Suite for Vehicle Protection
The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded ELTA North America a contract to evaluate its Multi-Mission/Multi-Sensor Suite, known as M3S2, as a vehicle protection and surveillance system, the company announced.
The M3S2 is a combined sensor package designed to support active protection, counter-unmanned aerial system functions, and advanced ground surveillance in a single unit. It integrates radar and electro-optical sensors into a low-size, weight, and power design aimed at tactical vehicles and other critical assets.
What M3S2 Offers
According to the announcement, the M3S2 suite brings together multiple sensor types to deliver all-around awareness and defensive support for combat vehicles, with the goal of reducing reliance on standalone systems. The system is positioned to enhance situational awareness, threat detection, and counter-UAS capability.
ELTA North America described M3S2 as offering 360-degree protection for tactical vehicles through integrated radar and electro-optical sensing, cutting down on the need for separate subsystems.
Strategic Context
The award signals the Pentagon’s continuing interest in layered protection systems for ground forces as threats evolve on modern battlefields. Integrated sensor suites like M3S2 aim to help armed forces identify and respond to threats more quickly while keeping system weight and power use manageable.
ELTA North America is a Maryland-based defense electronics specialist with experience in radar and sensor systems for U.S. military use. The company operates under a mitigated foreign ownership, control, or influence arrangement while supporting classified and unclassified work.
