Drone Defence | Laser-Based Counter-Drone Systems

THE THREAT

The Drone Threat Is Accelerating

Low-cost drones are the fastest-growing asymmetric threat to military operations and critical infrastructure. Defence costs 10–30× more than attack. Current countermeasures are failing.

Defence Costs Exceed Attack

Interceptors cost €50k–500k per shot. Drones cost €500. The economics are unsustainable.

Jamming Is Failing

Autonomous and cabled drones are immune to electronic warfare. Jamming also disrupts friendly systems.

Swarms Overwhelm

Kinetic systems have limited magazine depth. Against coordinated swarms, they run out of ammunition.

Civilian Risk

Kinetic interceptors create fragments and collateral damage, making them unsuitable near civilian infrastructure.

“FMI considers laser-based counter-drone solutions strategically important, with growing European interest driven by their low cost per engagement and scalability against small and medium-sized UAVs.”

— Jarl Petersen, Head of Section, DALO (FMI)

CAPABILITIES

Precision Directed Energy

A modular, laser-based counter-UAS system that autonomously detects, tracks, and neutralizes hostile drones using AI-powered perception and precision optics.

No Ammunition

Directed energy eliminates the need for kinetic interceptors. No resupply chain. No ordnance risk.

Unlimited Capacity

Requires only electrical power per engagement. Continuous protection without magazine limits.

Defeats Autonomous Drones

Effective against autonomous, cabled, and GPS-denied platforms where electronic warfare fails.

Safe Near Civilians

No fragments or collateral damage. Precision targeting with defined engagement zones and safety interlocks.

Engagement Comparison

Metric	Electronic Jamming	Kinetic Interceptors	Net / Capture	Laser (Directed Energy)
Cost per engagement	€0–1,000	€50k–500k+	€5k–20k	€1–10 (electricity)
Vs autonomous / cabled	No	Yes	No	Yes
Magazine capacity	Unlimited	1–10 shots	1–3 shots	Unlimited
Engagement range	0.5–5 km	1–10 km	<100 m	0.2–1 km
Collateral damage	Low (indiscriminate)	High (fragments)	Medium	Very low

TECHNOLOGY

System Architecture

Modular design decouples the laser effector from the detection layer, enabling independent deployment and integration with external radar or RF-based systems.

01

Detection & Tracking

Computer vision across visual and thermal spectra provides autonomous target acquisition. Integrates with existing radar and RF detection infrastructure.

02

Precision Optics

Proprietary optical design and beam-shaping module enables precise energy delivery at variable distances from a portable, battery-powered system.

03

Targeting Loop

Real-time tracking and beam steering maintain lock on fast-moving targets. Configurable engagement zones with human-in-the-loop safety architecture.

04

Modular Deployment

Portable system at ~25 kg. Battery-powered with ~10 minutes engagement time per cycle. Fixed-site or mobile deployment configurations.

Drone Shield MK1 — Prototype

Our first functional prototype undergoing indoor tracking tests. The system autonomously detects and tracks a hovering drone using computer vision, while the precision gimbal maintains target lock. Battery-powered and portable, the MK1 validates our core architecture: modular optics, AI-driven perception, and real-time beam steering — all integrated into a compact, field-deployable unit.

Optical Output 1 kW

Electrical Input ~3 kW

Battery Chemistry LiFePO4

System Weight ~25 kg

TRL 4–5

Safety Standard IEC 60825

MARKET

A Rapidly Growing Sector

$35–50B Global C-UAS market by early 2030s

$5–6B Laser C-UAS segment by early 2030s

6× Growth from $0.8B today

Primary customers: defence organizations, critical infrastructure operators, airports, and public security authorities. Sales through defence and security integrators with 12–24 month cycles.

TEAM

Founded by Engineers

Our team combines deep expertise in robotics, mechanical engineering, control systems, optics integration, and real-time software — enabling fully in-house design and prototyping.

Christian Dragkilde

Co-Founder · Technical Lead

Software architecture, system control, perception integration. MSc Mechanical Engineering.

Benjamin Tvorup

Co-Founder · Strategy

Commercial strategy, fundraising, partnerships, and product direction. MSc Mechanical Engineering.

Thomas Bjerrum

Co-Founder · Hardware

Mechanical design, optics integration, and thermal system development. MSc Mechanical Engineering.

CONTACT

Request a Briefing

For capability discussions, partnership inquiries, or pilot engagement opportunities.

contact@dronedefence.dk +45 22 86 23 23 Aarhus, Denmark

Danish defence technology · NATO member state

SHIELD OF LIGHT