NUBURU, Inc. has announced the initial results from a laser dazzler counter-uncrewed aerial system (C-UAS) test campaign conducted at Tekne S.p.A. facilities in Italy.
The objective of the campaign was to assess the effectiveness of NUBURU’s laser dazzling technology against electro-optical drone sensors. Tekne engineers and technical specialists measured sensor saturation and optical disruption across multiple operational configurations, with the goal of translating the data into product architecture, configuration and test-roadmap decisions.
NUBURU said the campaign generated measured evidence supporting the integration of NUBURU’s laser technology into Tekne tactical systems and future NUBURU Defense Italy mission packages under the NUBURU Defense Italian Plan, subject to required authorisations, product qualification, safety review, customer requirements and export-control constraints.
The trials were conducted in a controlled indoor environment simulating the engagement of a hostile UAS. “In the tested configurations, NUBURU’s dazzling technology achieved complete suppression of the drone’s electro-optical sensors by overwhelming the optical source, effectively denying visual acquisition,” the company said. “One of the most significant outcomes emerged during tactical approach simulations. In a scenario in which a hostile drone was tasked with detecting and tracking a designated neutralisation operator, the operator successfully approached to within approximately 20 metres of the target without being detected.”
The test campaign included two different drone platforms and trials were performed using both continuous-wave and pulsed laser operation at irradiance levels ranging from 0.1 mW/cm² to 0.5 mW/cm², fully compliant with applicable optical safety regulations. Additional comparative evaluations were conducted at irradiance levels up to five times higher than regulatory exposure limits solely to characterise system performance. NUBURU said the dazzling effect remained consistently effective in all configurations tested.
Building on the data collected during the Tekne test campaign, NUBURU’s product-development roadmap now includes next-generation integrated dazzler systems combining green, blue and infrared laser sources within a single device.
NUBURU and Tekne are working together to coordinate technology integration, product architecture and future validation programmes. In addition, NUBURU, Tekne and SunCubes are forming a dedicated working group to explore the next generation of vehicle-integrated optical power and defence technologies.
NUBURU also announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with HiPeRT S.r.l. to explore an industrial and technological collaboration in dual-use autonomous systems for defence and security, including C-UAS.
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Image: NUBURU
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