Communicating with lasers

ELBIT SYSTEMS Deutschland has entered into a strategic agreement with the German startup CUCUYO GmbH and obtained an exclusive license to adapt CUCUYO’s laser communication technology for defense applications. This grants ELBIT SYSTEMS the exclusive right to use and further develop CUCUYO’s technology for military and defense purposes. Under the agreement, both companies will jointly develop new products based on this technology, which will be owned by ELBIT.

As part of this initiative, ELBIT SYSTEMS Germany is establishing a dedicated organization that will focus on the research and development of military laser communication systems, with a particular emphasis on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and terrestrial applications. The licensed technology represents a unique, very lightweight, and high-performance solution that enables secure, high-capacity data links—a capability that is critical for next-generation defense systems

“Developing advanced technologies and intellectual property in Germany for deployment across Europe and within NATO is a central component of our strategy,” said Marian Rachow, CEO of ELBIT SYSTEMS Germany. “This exclusive collaboration with Cucuyo underscores Elbit’s long-term commitment to investing in German innovation, promoting local research and development, and strengthening our technological presence in the European defense ecosystem.”

Frank Negretti, CEO of CUCUYO, also emphasizes the technological significance of the collaboration: “With these newly developed products, we are working together with ELBIT SYSTEMS Germany to bring laser communication into a compact, UAV-compatible format—with high data capacity and long range. The investments made lay the foundation for making this capability operational as early as next year.”

ELBIT SYSTEMS Germany brings extensive experience in the fields of electro-optics, radio communications, and system integration. The company is well-positioned to drive innovations in laser communications that enable next-generation multi-domain operations with future operational platforms.

CUCUYO develops and manufactures laser-based communication products for a wide range of applications. Its stated goal is to bring laser communication terminals to market as a standard product. The first product, the P-100 terminal, is designed for use on smaller UAVs. Power consumption, weight, and data rate are scaled accordingly. Applications for laser communication include all types of data links that exceed the capabilities of traditional radio links. Laser communication offers a data rate 50 times higher than radio communication and cannot be jammed, spoofed, or intercepted. It is particularly suitable for unmanned aerial systems (UAV/UAS) that transmit large amounts of data from onboard sensors and require robust communication. The company’s headquarters are located in Pfäffikon SZ, Switzerland, with a German branch in Krailling near Munich. For more information, visit CUCUYO.