Esh-Tech unveils DroneLight hard-kill C-UAS at Eurosatory 2026

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At the international defence exhibition Eurosatory 2026, Esh-Tech presented DroneLight, a hard-kill Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) that uses a high-energy pulsed laser to physically take down drones. The system was created in response to an increasingly visible battlefield reality: the mass use of unmanned aerial systems has accelerated demand for fresh defensive options to safeguard both critical infrastructure and deployed forces.

Pulsed hard-kill concept behind DroneLight

Rather than relying on continuous heating of a single spot (as many laser systems do), DroneLight fires ultra-short pulses intended to punch through the airframe and reach vital internal parts. Speaking to Zona Militar, Erez Riahi, CEO of Esh-Tech Systems, said the guiding principle is to eliminate the threat as quickly as possible. "…Our idea is to completely destroy the drone, not simply interfere with it or divert it. What we are doing is like a cannon, but based on a laser…," he said.

Esh-Tech’s technical information at Eurosatory 2026 states that each pulse lasts about 10 milliseconds, functioning like a highly accurate projectile. "…Each pulse acts like a bullet…," the CEO explained, noting that the approach can pierce several millimetres of materials such as plastic or aluminium to reach vulnerable components. "…We know how to penetrate several millimeters of plastic or even aluminum and reach the electronics, sensors, or cameras. That is where the effect takes place…," Riahi stated.

This method contrasts sharply with conventional continuous-wave lasers, which typically need several seconds of dwell time on the same point to build enough heat for structural failure. DroneLight, by comparison, can stop a drone in one to two seconds, while more traditional solutions may take more than ten seconds to reach a comparable outcome. Riahi added that "…we normally need between five and ten hits to neutralize a drone, so we can do it in one or two seconds…".

DroneLight precision point defence and rapid response

Esh-Tech says the system can engage out to 1 kilometre, provides 360-degree continuous tracking, and offers a slew rate of up to 120 degrees per second. It also features a 300-millimetre co-aligned optical and laser aperture, designed to sustain high accuracy during acquisition and tracking.

In the discussion with Zona Militar, Riahi underlined DroneLight’s capacity to counter up to thirty drones per minute, which the company positions as especially relevant given the increasing concern over coordinated unmanned attacks. On this point, he stressed that "…because we can destroy a drone very quickly, we can also deal with swarm attacks…".

Platform integration and low power demand

Esh-Tech also drew attention to DroneLight’s comparatively modest power needs. While some established laser systems can demand more than 20 kW, DroneLight is described as requiring roughly 4 kW, lowering logistics burdens and making integration on mobile platforms easier. "…Our input power is only 4 kilowatts. We can install the system directly on a tactical vehicle or a jeep…," Riahi said at Eurosatory 2026.

This, the company argues, allows DroneLight to be fitted to a broad selection of land and naval platforms, enabling close-in protection against short-range threats alongside manoeuvring forces. Esh-Tech also states the system can operate with different sensors and command-and-control set-ups, integrating with radars or other detection tools supplied by customers or third parties. The intent is a mobile capability that can move with troops wherever the drone risk emerges, without having to depend on fixed sites or heavy support infrastructure.

An example shown at Eurosatory 2026 was a support variant of the ACSV combat vehicle made by German firm FFG, set up for counter-drone missions via a C-UAS module combining Esh-Tech’s DroneLight with multiple detection sensors.

DroneLight positioned as an accessible answer to the UAS challenge

Esh-Tech told Zona Militar that recent wars have highlighted how decisive drones can be in modern operations, particularly when used at scale for reconnaissance, strike tasks, or artillery fire correction. "…Drones are currently one of the greatest challenges facing ground forces. We are seeing it in Ukraine…," Riahi said, pointing to battlefield lessons observed in recent years.

Esh-Tech is now marketing DroneLight across Europe, Latin America, the United States, and the Asia-Pacific region, backing a concept intended to bring together precision, fast reaction times, and low power requirements. "…We know how to effectively neutralize drones in one or two seconds…," the company said, presenting this as a key differentiator in the expanding market for C-UAS laser solutions.

Images by Zona Militar.

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