Altechna Joins €25M TALOS-TWO Project to Develop Europe’s First 100 kW Laser Weapons
TALOS-TWO and Europe’s Defence Ambitions
The European Defence Fund–funded TALOS-TWO project brings together 21 partners from eight countries to strengthen Europe’s security, establish a sovereign laser supply chain, and accelerate the deployment of high-energy laser weapons by 2030.
Altechna has been selected to participate in the €25 million TALOS-TWO project, which aims to develop Europe’s first fully sovereign 100 kW-class laser-directed energy weapons by 2030.
Directed energy weapons use energy fired at the speed of light. Ten kilowatts of power is roughly equivalent to an electric car, while 100 kW of power could power around ten households. Lasers in the 100 kW class could become an alternative solution for air, ground, and sea platforms, offering higher targeting accuracy and precision for military and defence applications.
European Consortium and Industrial Cooperation
The TALOS-TWO initiative brings together 21 partners from eight countries, including major defence contractors such as CILAS, Leonardo, and Rheinmetall. The consortium also includes seven research organisations, five small and medium-sized enterprises, and one mid-cap company.
“Ongoing conflicts at Europe’s borders and increasing security challenges made Europe understand that no single country can stand alone in ensuring its defence,” said Antanas Laurutis, CEO of Altechna. “TALOS-TWO is proof of Europe’s decisive step towards strengthening security as a united front. By developing sovereign laser-directed energy weapons, we reinforce Europe’s ability to deter external threats as a cohesive force.”
From TALOS to TALOS-TWO: Moving Toward Deployment
The original TALOS project (2019–2023) laid the groundwork for European laser-directed energy weapons by demonstrating their effectiveness and evaluating critical enabling technologies.
TALOS-TWO builds on this foundation and shifts from theoretical research to real-world implementation. In this phase, laser power output is significantly increased, beam-combination methods are refined, and system deployment in military environments is addressed.
Unlike the first phase, which focused on concept validation, TALOS-TWO is developing physical demonstrators, including two high-power 1 µm combined laser sources and simulated 2 µm laser combinations.
Laser Wavelengths and System Performance
“In lasers, wavelength is measured in micrometres (µm), which determines performance and application,” explained Deividas Buinovskis, CTO of Altechna. “A 1 µm laser is ideal for precision targeting and material processing, while 2 µm offers advantages in atmospheric penetration and eye-safe applications. By developing both, TALOS-TWO improves range, efficiency, and adaptability for defence use.”
The second phase also introduces dynamic 3D visualisation of danger zones around targets to improve targeting precision, along with studies analysing laser impact on real targets to fine-tune system effectiveness.
Strengthening Europe’s Laser Supply Chain
TALOS-TWO also establishes a European supply chain for high-energy laser sources, reducing reliance on external suppliers and strengthening Europe’s defence autonomy.
Overall, the project focuses on three main areas: improving military and defence capabilities, strengthening Europe’s technological and industrial base, and developing a long-term strategic roadmap for system integration.
The ultimate goal is to reach Technology Readiness Level 8 by 2030, meaning the laser weapon systems are fully tested and demonstrated in operational environments.
“Strengthening Europe’s defence with advanced laser technologies will not only improve collective security, it will also ensure that regions like Central and Eastern Europe have the tools to counter modern threats,” said Buinovskis. “Many countries in this region still rely on outdated defence systems. TALOS-TWO supports both regional security upgrades and the creation of innovation hubs where technological progress is most needed.”
Altechna’s Role in TALOS-TWO
As a new addition to the TALOS programme, Altechna brings core optical and photonics expertise required for the development of high-energy laser systems. According to the project, integrating these systems into national defence programmes will support faster adoption and improve the defence capabilities of European armed forces.
Credit: TALOS