Ukraine Battlefield Demand Drives Wave of Miniature Drone Laser Designator Launches

Reported from Warsaw, Poland — At this year's Eurosatory defence exhibition in Paris, multiple European companies actively showcased drone laser solutions aimed at filling critical technology gaps in Ukraine's defence effort.

Lithuania's Aktyvus Photonics: Tripling Production Capacity

Lithuanian startup Aktyvus Photonics has announced it will triple production of its ultra-compact drone laser designator system this year, reinvesting all 2025 profits into operational expansion.

With Ukraine's front lines heavily reliant on small drones, and existing laser systems for guided munitions generally being bulky and expensive, Aktyvus Photonics developed a one-hand-holdable laser designator weighing just 200 grams.

CEO Laurynas Šatas told Defense News: "Our laser components are supplied to defence system integrators and contractors across NATO's European member states. As a Lithuanian company on NATO's eastern flank, the Baltic region is our natural focus — both geographically and strategically — because the security environment here is critical." He added: "Our technology has also been deployed in Ukraine, where real combat conditions have provided live validation of our products."

Estonia's Threod Systems: Unveiling a Next-Generation VTOL Drone

Estonia's Threod Systems has been steadily expanding its line of drone launchers and unmanned platforms, with its equipment already deployed in Ukraine's operations against the Russian invasion. At this year's Eurosatory, the company officially launched its next-generation compact vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone — the Eos D ISTAR.

The system pairs a lightweight airframe with high-performance sensors, designed to "integrate laser designation and reconnaissance capabilities into a lightweight unmanned system," the company stated.

CEO Arno Vaik noted: "Laser designation is not a new technology, but precision support capabilities should not be limited to large systems or large unmanned platforms. Our goal is to bring this capability to smaller VTOL unmanned systems, making it easier for tactical units to deploy and operate."

Ukraine Combat Feedback Accelerates Technology Iteration

Threod Systems operates a training centre in Ukraine and continuously collects operator feedback from the field to refine its drones' software algorithms and operating procedures. Backed by extensive combat experience, Threod Systems' products have been exported to 27 countries, including 14 NATO member states.

This year's Eurosatory exhibition underscored how the urgent demands of the Ukraine battlefield are rapidly driving miniaturisation innovation in European defence technology, with commercial opportunities for lightweight laser designator systems expanding at pace.

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