News: Optoelectronics
15 June 2026
NUBURU agrees Lyocon-led alliance with SunCubes
NUBURU Inc of Centennial, CO, USA (a dual-use defense & security integrated platform company focused on non-kinetic effects and directed-energy technologies, electronic warfare and defense mobility programs, software-orchestrated defense systems and advanced manufacturing) has signed a binding head of terms with SunCubes S.r.l., an Italian developer of laser-based wireless power transmission, beam-control, pointing, tracking and safety technologies.
NUBURU intends to implement the definitive investment and industrial cooperation through subsidiary Lyocon S.r.l. (an Italian laser-technology company specializing in the design, manufacturing and integration of high-power blue laser systems for industrial applications). The structure reflects the core business logic of the transaction: the alliance is laser-focused, and Lyocon is intended to act as the laser factory and photonics center of excellence of the NUBURU group.
Under the agreement, NUBURU intends to make (directly or through Lyocon as the designated NUBURU group entity) a staged strategic investment of up to €1m in SunCubes. This is structured as advance payments toward a future SunCubes capital increase, consisting of an initial €250,000 advance payment upon execution of definitive agreements and an additional €750,000 advance payment following receipt of applicable Golden Power and export-control clearances. The advance payments are expected to convert into SunCubes corporate capital through a reserved capital increase, subject to the conditions set out in the definitive agreements.
The planned Lyocon-led alliance is designed to create a new Laser Arm capability within the NUBURU Defense & Security Platform. The business objective is to combine Lyocon’s laser-source technologies, laser manufacturing and photonics integration capabilities with SunCubes’ beam-control, tracking, and optical power-beaming technologies.
Through this strategic partnership with SunCubes, NUBURU is set to introduce a multi-layered suite of laser-based innovations tailored for the drone and counter-UAV sectors. The collaboration will expand the firm’s non-lethal defense ecosystem by developing a lightweight, portable laser interdiction system deployable on both rifles and drone platforms, alongside a high-power, vehicle-mounted laser arm for extended-range missions. Beyond tactical defense, the partnership introduces pioneering laser power-beaming applications, including an in-air drone recharging technology designed to enable continuous flight operations for long-endurance missions, and a remote wireless charging system for surveillance equipment in off-grid critical infrastructure and advanced military positions. Furthermore, the joint initiative aims to deliver a highly resilient, laser-based communication system capable of securing real-time, high-capacity data transmission directly from the operational field. These combined capabilities position NUBURU to establish a comprehensive, laser-centric ecosystem spanning counter-UAV defense, tactical deterrence, long-range power beaming, advanced surveillance, critical asset protection, and secure data communications.
Lyocon: NUBURU’s Laser Factory
NUBURU completed the acquisition of Lyocon in January through Nuburu Subsidiary Inc, with SEC filings describing Lyocon as an Italian laser-engineering and photonics company specializing in advanced laser sources, precision optical systems and customized laser platforms.
Lyocon is expected to play a central role in NUBURU’s industrial strategy by providing the laser-source manufacturing, optical integration, laser-module development and system-engineering capabilities required to move from individual laser components toward integrated defense and security solutions. Within the SunCubes framework, Lyocon is expected to support laser-source integration, system validation, industrialization and potential assembly of Laser Arm systems for vehicle, mobile, fixed-site and dual-use applications.
The planned cooperation also supports NUBURU’s European industrial footprint. The agreement contemplates a Milan R&D hub focused on optical engineering, beam-control development, laser-source integration via Lyocon, thermal management, AI-assisted engagement logic and system validation. Directed-energy systems may be industrialized at Italian facilities, including Lyocon in Vigevano and Tekne in Ortona, for Laser Arm assembly, vehicle-platform integration and EU/NATO-compliant export preparation.
Market opportunity and competitive positioning
The Laser Arm initiative is designed to position NUBURU in a high-growth segment of the defense market where counter-drone, directed-energy and non-kinetic defense systems are moving from demonstration programs to deployment priorities. The planned Lyocon-led alliance is intended to combine laser-source manufacturing, beam-control integration, optical power transmission, safety architecture, tracking, thermal management and vehicle-ready deployment into a modular platform for counter-UAS, anti-drone defense, tactical mobility, expeditionary systems, secure optical power and critical-infrastructure protection.
Independent market estimates point to a rapidly expanding opportunity. MarketsandMarkets estimates that the global anti-drone market is growing from $4.48bn in 2025 to $14.51bn by 2030, while IMARC forecasts that the broader directed-energy weapons market will reach $35.32bn by 2034. The most directly relevant segment for the Laser Arm initiative — directed-energy counter-UAS — is estimated by Global Market Insights to grow from $1.6bn in 2025 to $6.8bn by 2035.
The competitive landscape includes major defense contractors and specialist directed-energy companies, but NUBURU believes that the market remains in the early stages of industrialization. Rather than competing as a traditional air-defense prime, NUBURU intends to pursue a differentiated value-chain role through Lyocon: laser-source supply, laser integration, power-beaming, beam-control integration and vehicle-ready Laser Arm implementation. This positioning is designed to serve governments, defense primes, military-vehicle manufacturers, critical-infrastructure operators and allied-market system integrators seeking scalable, non-kinetic counter-drone capabilities. The signed agreement supports this strategy by expressly targeting development and industrialization of vehicle-integrated Laser Arm systems, non-kinetic counter-UAS applications, secure optical power and related dual-use laser technologies.
Strategic fit with NUBURU’s Defense & Security Platform
The Laser Arm initiative is expected to add a new directed-energy pillar to NUBURU’s Defense & Security Platform, reinforcing the firm’s broader strategy of combining hardware-enabled and software-orchestrated defense capabilities across multiple mission areas.
NUBURU’s recent Tekne transaction announcement described Tekne as part of its next-generation Defense & Security Platform and highlighted expected opportunities across defense mobility, electronic warfare and NATO-aligned markets. The planned SunCubes collaboration complements that trajectory by adding laser-source integration, beam control, optical power and non-kinetic counter-UAS capabilities through Lyocon.
The business objective is to create a platform architecture where Lyocon provides the laser foundation, SunCubes contributes beam-control and power-beaming technologies, and NUBURU coordinates the broader defense-market strategy, industrial partnerships, mobility integration and commercialization pathway.
Executive comments
“The strategic value of this initiative goes far beyond the contemplated investment. Our objective is to strengthen Lyocon’s role as the laser factory of the NUBURU group and create a differentiated Laser Arm capability addressing some of the most important requirements emerging across defense, security and critical-infrastructure markets,” says NUBURU’s executive chairman & co-CEO Alessandro Zamboni.
“Counter-drone systems, directed-energy technologies and non-kinetic defense capabilities are rapidly moving from research programs to procurement priorities. Through Lyocon and our broader Defense & Security Platform, we believe NUBURU is building a unique combination of laser manufacturing, photonics integration, defense mobility, electronic warfare and software-enabled mission capabilities that can create significant long-term value,” he adds.
“Lyocon was acquired to provide NUBURU with a scalable industrial laser platform. This initiative would further expand that role by combining our laser-source expertise with SunCubes’ beam-control, tracking and safety technologies to support next-generation directed-energy applications,” says Lyocon’s executive director Paola Zanzola.
“Our goal is to move from laser modules to integrated systems. The Laser Arm initiative gives Lyocon a clear pathway to become a key industrial engine for NUBURU’s defense and dual-use laser roadmap,” he adds.
“SunCubes is focused on controlling optical power over distance, including laser-based wireless energy transmission, pointing and tracking, safety logic and optical power management,” notes SunCubes’ founder & CEO Alberto Chiozzi. “The combination of SunCubes’ beam-control and wireless power transmission technologies with Lyocon’s laser manufacturing capabilities creates exciting opportunities across defense, industrial and critical-infrastructure sectors,” he believes.
“Modern defense customers increasingly need layered, mobile and cost-effective counter-UAS solutions. The Laser Arm initiative supports NUBURU’s strategy of integrating photonics, mobility, electronic warfare and mission software into a scalable allied-market defense platform,” comments Dario Barisoni, co-CEO of NUBURU, CEO of Nuburu Defense and chairman of Lyocon.
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