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Tactical Advanced Laser Optical Systems (TALOS TWO)

Ongoing January 15, 2026
Tactical Advanced Laser Optical Systems (TALOS TWO)

Tactical Advanced Laser Optical Systems

TALOS-TWO is a European Defence Fund (EDF) 2023 research project aimed at developing Europe’s first fully sovereign 100 kW-class laser-directed energy weapon systems by 2030. The project focuses on advanced laser sources and beam-combining technologies suitable for future integration into air, ground, and maritime platforms. The project builds on the original TALOS programme (2019–2023), moving from foundational research toward physical demonstrators and higher technology readiness levels, strengthening Europe’s defence autonomy.

Altechna's Role in the TALOS TWO Project

Altechna is a consortium partner in the TALOS-TWO project, contributing advanced optical engineering expertise to the development of Europe’s next-generation laser-directed energy systems. Within the project, Altechna focuses on precision optical solutions for high-energy laser applications, supporting system performance where optical reliability, beam quality, and resistance to extreme thermal and power loads are critical. High-power laser weapons place exceptional demands on optical components, and Altechna’s role is to help ensure that these systems can operate safely, efficiently, and consistently in real-world defence environments. By applying its experience in designing and manufacturing high-performance optical components, Altechna supports the transition from laboratory-level laser research to deployable, operationally relevant defence technologies.

CALL TITLE:
Disruptive EDF research actions
TOPIC TITLE:
Laser-based directed-energy weapons
DURATION OF THE PROJECT:
36 months
TYPE(S) OF ACTIVITIES:
Generating knowledge, Integrating knowledge, Studies, Design
EU CONTRIBUTION:
€25M

Key Technical Objectives

Development of two high-power 1 µm combined laser source demonstrators
Simulation of beam-combining methods using 2 µm laser sources
Establishment of a fully European supply chain for high-energy laser sources
Maturation of technologies for European-produced 2 µm laser systems
Introduction of dynamic 3D visualisation of laser danger zones
Experimental studies analysing the effects of high-energy lasers on real targets
Development of a long-term roadmap for European laser-directed energy capabilities
The project targets Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 8, enabling future deployment and integration into national defence programmes.

Consortium

COMPAGNIE INDUSTRIELLE DES LASERS CILAS SA (CILAS) – FR
LEONARDO - SOCIETÀ PER AZIONI (LDO) – IT
UAB ALTECHNA SENSING (Altechna) – LT
CRYTUR SPOL SRO (Crytur) – CZ
DEUTSCHES ZENTRUM FÜR LUFT UND RAUMFAHRT EV (DLR) – DE
EDAIR TECHNOLOGIES SL (EDAIR) – ES
FERDINAND-BRAUN-INSTITUT GMBH LEIBNIZ- INSTITUT FÜR HÖCHSTFREQUENZTECHNIK (FBH) – DE
FiberBridge Photonics GmbH (FiberBridge) – DE
FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FÖRDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV (Fraunhofer) – DE
MBDA FRANCE (MBDA-FR) – FR
RHEINMETALL WAFFE MUNITION GMBH (RWM) – DE
MBDA DEUTSCHLAND GMBH (MBDA-GE) – DE
MBDA ITALIA SPA (MBDA-IT) – IT
WOJSKOWA AKADEMIA TECHNICZNA IM.JAROSLAWA DABROWSKIEGO (WAT) – PL
OFFICE NATIONAL D'ETUDES ET DE RECHERCHES AEROSPATIALES (ONERA) – FR
THALES LAS FRANCE SAS (TLAS) – FR
NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNO (TNO) – NL
THALES (TRT) – FR USTAV FOTONIKY A ELEKTRONIKY AV CR V.V.I. (UFE) – CZ