NUBURU Enters the $20B Global Counter-Drone Defense Market as Lyocon Completes Proof-of-Concept for Portable Directed-Energy Laser Platform

Directed-energy breakthrough positions NUBURU’s Defense & Security platform to address the rapidly expanding global counter-UAV market as demand for portable drone-mitigation technologies accelerates worldwide

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NUBURU, Inc. (NYSE American: BURU), a dual-use Defense & Security platform company focused on non-kinetic effects, directed-energy technologies, electronic warfare and software-orchestrated defense systems, today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Lyocon S.r.l. (“Lyocon”) has successfully completed the proof-of-concept (“POC”) of a portable directed-energy laser dazzler platform designed for counter-drone (“C-UAV”) defense applications.

Counter-drone technologies have become a critical priority for defense agencies worldwide as the proliferation of low-cost unmanned aircraft systems (“UAS”) reshapes modern battlefield and security environments.

The milestone represents NUBURU’s entry into the rapidly expanding counter-drone defense market, where military forces, security operators, and critical-infrastructure providers worldwide are accelerating deployment of technologies capable of neutralizing emerging UAV threats.

According to a report by MarketsandMarkets, the global counter-UAS market is projected to grow from approximately $6.6 billion in 2025 to more than $20 billion by 2030 as defense agencies increase investment in C-UAV technologies.

The development expands NUBURU’s directed-energy capabilities within its integrated Defense & Security ecosystem, which combines laser technologies, electronic warfare solutions, AI-enabled mission software platforms, and tactical defense systems designed to address evolving multi-domain threats.

Addressing One of the Most Urgent Threats in Modern Warfare

The rapid proliferation of low-cost commercial and tactical drones has emerged as one of the most disruptive developments in modern conflict environments.

Recent operational developments across global conflict zones have demonstrated how inexpensive UAV platforms can threaten:

• frontline military units
• armored vehicles and logistics convoys
• critical infrastructure
• border security installations
• airports and major public venues

These evolving threats are accelerating global procurement of counter-drone protection technologies, particularly portable and rapidly deployable mitigation systems capable of neutralizing UAV threats in real time.

Directed-Energy Platform Designed for Rapid Deployment

The Lyocon counter-drone system is designed to generate optical interference capable of disrupting UAV sensors and visual systems, enabling a non-kinetic mitigation approach against drone threats.

The system leverages NUBURU’s semiconductor laser expertise and is built around a compact and modular directed-energy architecture optimized for field deployment.

Key technical capabilities include:

• Multi-wavelength directed-energy configuration
  • Green laser band
  • Blue laser band
  • Infrared (IR) band
• Scalable optical power output
  • 1W to 10W operational range
• Advanced beam control
  • Adjustable beam divergence: 2.5 to 30 mrad
  • Dynamic beam regulation
  • Precision collimation
• Operational deployment design
  • Lightweight rifle-mounted architecture
  • Compatible with standard military small-arms platforms
  • Portable battlefield deployment
  • Designed for NATO-compliant operational environments

Early Customer Engagement and Validation

In parallel with the internal POC milestone, Lyocon has been engaged in structured technical validation activities with a large government-owned defense electronics company, one of the leading suppliers of advanced defense systems and military electronics in its domestic market.

Within this engagement framework:

• prototype trials have been completed and production-prototype trials have been successfully finalized, and
• the technology platform has progressed through technical evaluation and validation stages.

Following these development milestones, the parties have also entered discussions regarding potential procurement pathways, including the negotiation of a possible supply agreement, subject to customary technical qualification, regulatory approvals, and contractual negotiations.

These activities provide early validation of the platform’s operational relevance and market interest within the global defense sector.

The modular architecture of the system enables rapid iteration and integration into broader counter-drone platforms, supporting accelerated deployment timelines compared with traditional defense development cycles.

Management Commentary

Paola Zanzola, Executive Director of Lyocon S.r.l., commented:

“The successful completion of the POC confirms the robustness of the architecture we have engineered and the scalability of Lyocon’s directed-energy platform. Our objective has been to design a compact, modular system capable of delivering effective optical countermeasures against drone threats while maintaining portability and operational flexibility.”

Dario Barisoni, Co-CEO of Nuburu Inc. and CEO of Nuburu Defense LLC, added:

“Counter-drone protection has become one of the most urgent priorities for defense forces and critical infrastructure operators worldwide. Lyocon’s portable directed-energy platform represents a highly adaptable non-kinetic C-UAV solution capable of protecting personnel, vehicles, and sensitive infrastructure from evolving UAV threats.”

About Nuburu, Inc

Founded in 2015, Nuburu is executing a strategic transformation from a laser-technology company into a dual-use Defense & Security platform provider. Through a combination of proprietary directed-energy technologies, non-kinetic defense capabilities, mission-critical software, and targeted industrial partnerships and acquisitions, Nuburu addresses high-value defense, security, and operational-resilience markets.

For more information, visit www.nuburu.net.

About Nuburu Defense LLC

A subsidiary of NUBURU, Nuburu Defense delivers advanced solutions for defense, security, and critical-infrastructure applications, supporting NUBURU’s Defense & Security Hub strategy.

For more information, visit also:

• www.orbitopenplatform.com
• TEKNE S.p.A. | SPECIAL VEHICLES & ELECTRONICS

About Nuburu Subsidiary, Inc

A subsidiary of NUBURU, Nuburu Subsidiary, Inc fully owns Lyocon S.r.l. (“Lyocon”) an Italian laser-technology company specializing in the design, manufacturing, and integration of high-power blue-laser systems for industrial applications.

Lyocon operates as a fully consolidated operating subsidiary within the NUBURU group and represents the core industrial platform for NUBURU’s reactivated blue-laser business.

For more information, visit also Home Page - Lyocon.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release may be forward-looking statements, identified by words such as “may,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “will,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “predict,” “plan,” “seek,” “targets,” “projects,” “could,” “would,” “continue,” “forecast,” or their negatives or variations. These statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, including but not limited to: (1) the ability to meet applicable securities exchange listing standards; (2) the impact of the loss of the Company’s patent portfolio through foreclosure; (3) failure to achieve expectations regarding business development and acquisition strategies; (4) inability to access sufficient capital; (5) inability to realize anticipated benefits of acquisitions; (6) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (7) adverse economic, business, or competitive factors; (8) financial market volatility due to geopolitical and economic factors; and (9) other risks detailed in the Company’s SEC filings, including its most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. These filings address additional risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on these statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. NUBURU undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, except as required by law.

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.