US Defense firm NUBURU has reported encouraging initial results from tests of its laser dazzler counter-drone technology.
The test was conducted with Italian defense company Tekne, marking progress under its NUBURU Defense Italian Plan.
The trials, carried out at Tekne’s facilities in Italy, evaluated the ability of the directed-energy system to disrupt electro-optical sensors on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
According to the company, engineers recorded successful sensor saturation and optical disruption across multiple test configurations, providing data to support future product development and integration into Tekne’s tactical systems.
Laser defense demonstrated
The trials were conducted in a controlled indoor environment designed to simulate the engagement of a hostile UAV. According to NUBURU, its laser dazzler technology completely suppressed the drone’s electro-optical sensors by overwhelming the optical source, preventing the UAV from acquiring visual targets.
During one tactical simulation, a drone tasked with detecting and tracking a designated operator failed to identify the individual, allowing the operator to approach within approximately 20 meters of the UAV undetected. The company said the result highlights the potential of laser dazzling technology to conceal personnel during close-range counter-drone operations and support other approved methods of neutralizing aerial threats.
The campaign evaluated the system on two different drone platforms, demonstrating compatibility across multiple UAV configurations. Tests were carried out using both continuous-wave and pulsed laser modes at irradiance levels ranging from 0.1 mW/cm² to 0.5 mW/cm², in compliance with applicable optical safety regulations.
According to NUBURU, additional performance assessments at irradiance levels up to five times higher than regulatory exposure limits were conducted solely to characterize system performance. The dazzling effect remained consistently effective across all tested configurations.
The tests were performed at ranges of up to approximately 100 meters, limited by the indoor facility. The company said the results provide data for modeling engagement distances extending to kilometers, with future product development initially targeting operational scenarios beyond one kilometer.
NUBURU also said its development roadmap includes next-generation dazzler systems integrating green, blue and infrared laser sources into a single platform for day- and night-time counter-UAS operations across land, maritime and fixed-site environments. “The next step is engineering discipline: configuration optimization, safety review, range modeling, platform integration, and repeatable qualification gates for day- and night-time optical-defense mission packages,” said Dario Barisoni, Co-CEO of NUBURU, in a statement.
Counter-drone innovation
NUBURU said the successful test results are commercially significant because demand for counter-drone technologies is growing rapidly worldwide.
The company said defense customers are increasingly looking for integrated systems that combine multiple technologies to detect, disrupt, and defeat UAVs. Industry estimates value the global counter-UAS market at several billion dollars, with the laser-based anti-drone segment expected to expand at an annual growth rate of about 27 percent through 2033.
NUBURU said it plans to target the laser-based counter-drone market by combining its optical sensor-denial technology with Tekne’s defense mobility, electronic warfare, and systems integration expertise. The company stressed that these market estimates are intended only to illustrate potential opportunities and do not represent revenue forecasts or contracted business.
Following the initial trials, NUBURU and Tekne have created a joint engineering and product development team to accelerate the technology’s commercial development. The collaboration will focus on integrating laser dazzler systems into portable, vehicle-mounted, fixed-site, maritime, and tower-mounted defense platforms. Engineers will also work on power, cooling, safety systems, control software, and the integration of green, blue, and infrared laser sources into a single counter-UAS platform.
The companies will also explore working with SunCubes on advanced beam steering, tracking, and optical communication technologies, subject to regulatory approvals.