WARSAW, Poland \u2014 Several European companies are promoting their laser solutions for unmanned aerial vehicles at this year\u2019s Eurosatory exhibition in Paris, seeking to a fill critical technology gap for Ukraine\u2019s defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lithuania\u2019s Aktyvus Photonics has announced it is tripling the production of its ultra-compact UAV laser-designation systems this year, using its 2025 profits to expand operations. As Ukraine\u2019s front lines rely on small drones, and the laser systems that guide the Ukrainian military\u2019s missiles are predominantly heavy and expensive, the company has developed a system that fits in a hand and weighs 200 grams, according to company representatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur laser components are supplied to defense integrators and contractors across NATO-allied Europe. As we are a Lithuanian company on NATO\u2019s eastern flank, the Baltic region is a natural focus for us \u2014 both geographically and strategically, given the security environment here,\u201d Laurynas \u0160atas, the CEO of Aktyvus Photonics, told Defense News. \u201cOur technology is also present in Ukraine, where real battlefield conditions have tested and validated what we build.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Estonian company Threod Systems continues to expand its range of drone launchers and UAVs that are also employed in Ukraine\u2019s combat against the Russian invasion. At this year\u2019s Eurosatory, the producer is unveiling its Eos D ISTAR, a new-generation smallvertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The solution combines a lightweight aircraft with a high-capability sensor system \u201cto bring laser designation and reconnaissance capability into a lightweight unmanned aircraft system,\u201d the Estonian company said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLaser designation itself is not a new capability, but a precision-support function should not be limited to larger systems or unmanned platforms,\u201d said Arno Vaik, the CEO of Threod Systems. \u201cOur focus has been to bring that capability into a smaller VTOL UAS that tactical units can deploy and operate significantly more easily.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Threod Systems has used feedback from operators in Ukraine, where the company runs a training center, to enhance the software algorithms and operating procedures for its craft. The gear\u2019s combat experience has facilitated exports to 27 countries, including 14 NATO member states, according to data from Threod Systems.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Companies rush to miniaturize the technology for marking targets on the battlefield, making it suitable to ride on small unmanned aerial vehicles.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":120857,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":46,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":{"9":{"categories":["unmanned","home"],"primary_category":"unmanned"}}},"categories":[160,29,46,86,11,36,27],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3389],"class_list":["post-73117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-digital-show-dailies","category-europe","category-eurosatory","category-global","category-newsletters","category-unmanned"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"PHCLVO2JMBCPPCW2E3X6HI4YGI","arc_canonical_url":"\/global\/europe\/2026\/06\/16\/ukraines-demand-for-tiny-drone-laser-targeting-systems-spurs-new-product-launches\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"\n