Esh-Tech presents DroneLight, a pulsed laser C-UAS at Eurosatory 2026

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At the Eurosatory 2026 international exhibition, Esh-Tech unveiled DroneLight, a hard-kill C-UAS (Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System) that uses a high-energy pulsed laser to physically neutralise drones. The solution has been designed to counter a threat that has become increasingly prominent in modern conflicts, where the widespread use of unmanned aircraft has driven the development of new defensive capabilities to protect both critical infrastructure and forces deployed in the field.

Unlike other laser systems, which destroy targets by continuously applying thermal energy to a single point, DroneLight uses extremely short pulses intended to pierce a drone’s structure and reach critical components. In an interview with Zona Militar, Erez Riahi, CEO of Esh-Tech Systems, stressed that the principle behind the system is to achieve the effective destruction of a threat in the shortest possible time. “...Our idea is to destroy the drone completely, rather than merely interfere with it or deflect it. What we are doing is like a cannon, but laser-based...”, he said.

According to technical details supplied by Esh-Tech at Eurosatory 2026, each pulse lasts approximately 10 milliseconds and operates much like a highly accurate projectile. “...Each pulse acts like a bullet...”, the company CEO explained, adding that the technology can penetrate several millimetres of materials such as plastic or aluminium to reach sensitive internal components. “...We know how to get through a few millimetres of plastic or even aluminium and reach the electronic systems, sensors or cameras. That is where the effect occurs...”, Riahi stated.

This operating philosophy differs significantly from conventional continuous-wave laser systems, which generally need several seconds of exposure on the same point to generate sufficient heat and cause structural damage. DroneLight can neutralise a drone within one to two seconds, whereas conventional solutions may require more than ten seconds to achieve similar results. Esh-Tech’s CEO noted that “...normally we need between five and ten hits to neutralise a drone, so we can do it in one or two seconds...”.

DroneLight precision point defence and rapid response

Esh-Tech highlighted that the system has a range of up to one kilometre, continuous 360° tracking capability and a slewing speed of up to 120° per second. It also incorporates a 300-millimetre co-aligned laser and optical aperture, allowing high levels of accuracy to be maintained while acquiring and tracking targets.

In Zona Militar’s interview with Erez Riahi, the company CEO emphasised DroneLight’s capacity to counter up to thirty drones per minute, a particularly relevant feature given the growing danger posed by coordinated unmanned aircraft attacks. In this regard, he stressed that “...because we can destroy a drone very quickly, we can also deal with swarm attacks...”.

The company also underlined DroneLight’s low energy consumption during operation. While some conventional or legacy laser systems may require more than 20 kW of power, DroneLight requires approximately 4 kW, substantially reducing logistical requirements and making integration onto mobile platforms easier. “...Our input power is only 4 kilowatts. We can install the system directly on a tactical vehicle or a jeep...”, Esh-Tech’s CEO explained during Eurosatory 2026.

Mobile integration for deployed forces

This feature enables DroneLight to be integrated onto a broad range of land and naval platforms, accompanying deployed forces and providing close protection against short-range threats. According to the company, the system can operate alongside different sensors and command-and-control architectures, integrating with radars or other detection assets supplied by the customer or third parties. The concept is intended to provide a mobile capability that can accompany troops wherever the drone threat requires it, without necessarily relying on fixed installations or extensive support infrastructure.

One example displayed at Eurosatory 2026 was the support variant of the ACSV combat vehicle from German company FFG. It was configured for the counter-drone role through a C-UAS module incorporating Esh-Tech’s DroneLight and various detection sensors.

An accessible solution for the UAS challenge

During Zona Militar’s interview, Esh-Tech representatives emphasised that recent conflicts have demonstrated the impact drones can have on modern military operations, particularly in scenarios where these platforms are used on a large scale for reconnaissance, attack or fire correction. “...Drones are now one of the greatest challenges for ground forces. We are seeing it in Ukraine...”, Riahi said, referring to lessons observed on the battlefield in recent years.

The company is currently promoting DroneLight in markets across Europe, Latin America, the United States and Asia-Pacific, backing a technology intended to combine precision, rapid response and low energy requirements. “...We know how to neutralise drones effectively in one or two seconds...”, Esh-Tech concluded, highlighting a capability it considers distinctive within the expanding market for laser C-UAS solutions.