What nLIGHT does

nLIGHT, Inc. (NASDAQ: LASR) is a U.S.-headquartered manufacturer of high-power semiconductor lasers, fiber lasers, and optical fibers founded in 2000 and based in Camas, Washington, with approximately 800 employees. The company operates a vertically integrated technology stack spanning semiconductor epitaxy, single-emitter diodes, optical fiber draw (LIEKKI, via proprietary direct nanoparticle deposition), fiber amplifiers, and complete high-energy laser effectors (the HADES family), protected by a portfolio of over 450 patents covering coherent beam combination, spectral beam combination, and dynamic beam shaping.

The company's commercial model is hardware sales through direct enterprise engagement with the U.S. Department of Defense, allied militaries, and defense prime contractors (Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, AeroVironment), supplemented by a global distributor network for industrial and emerging-market customers. Revenue is generated under quote-based, multi-year contracts with two primary streams: Laser Products (semiconductor lasers, fiber lasers, optical fibers, and defense laser systems) and Advanced Development / Defense Programs (development contracts such as HELSI-2, DE M-SHORAD, and sensing awards). Following its February 2026 exit from the cutting and welding markets, nLIGHT has repositioned as a directed-energy-focused business, with aerospace and defense generating approximately 85% of FY2025 revenue of $261.3M.

The customer base spans the U.S. Army and broader DoD for directed energy weapons, counter-UAV, C-RAM, and counter-missile missions, allied militaries (addressed through the new Torino, Italy assembly footprint), industrial manufacturers served via industrial fiber lasers and additive-manufacturing lasers (Corona AFX), and medical device manufacturers served via 2-micron fiber lasers. International operations span Finland (optical fibers), Italy (defense assembly), Austria (nLIGHT plasmo), and sales offices in China and Korea. The company is publicly traded, raised approximately $201M in a February 2026 follow-on offering, and carries a market capitalization of roughly $3.76-$4.28B as of mid-2026.

Name

nLIGHT

Legal name

nLIGHT, Inc.

Website

https://nlight.net

Company type

Public

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

nLIGHT (NASDAQ: LASR) designs and manufactures high-power semiconductor lasers, fiber lasers, and directed-energy laser weapons for the U.S. Department of Defense, allied militaries, defense prime contractors, and industrial customers, with a vertically integrated stack from chips to complete HADES high-energy laser systems.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Directed Energy Weapons / Semiconductor and Fiber Lasers

NAICS

Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing (334413), Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing (335921)

SIC

Ordnance & Accessories, (No Vehicles/Guided Missiles) (3480), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Directed Energy Weapons (Laser/HPM) Systems (IMABAOAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Optoelectronic Emitters (LED/Laser/VCSEL) (HDAHALAL), Optoelectronics & Photonics (LED/Laser/Optical ICs) (HDAHAAAH), Optoelectronic Components (LEDs, photodiodes, optocouplers, optical sensors) (IMAGAJAF)

Keywords

• Semiconductor lasers
• Fiber lasers
• Directed energy weapons
• Defense laser systems
• Advanced manufacturing lasers

Headquarters

HQ city

Hillsboro

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Laser Products: Sales of semiconductor lasers, fiber lasers, optical fibers, and defense laser products to aerospace, defense, industrial, and medical markets. Includes component-level sales and integrated laser systems.
2. Advanced Development: Development contracts and programs for defense applications including HELSI-2, DE M-SHORAD, and other directed energy programs. Revenue recognized from government defense contracts.
3. Defense Programs: Government defense contracts for laser weapons systems and sensing technologies. Growing segment now representing approximately 85% of total revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

nLIGHT designs, develops, and manufactures high-power semiconductor lasers and fiber lasers with a vertically integrated technology stack spanning from semiconductor chips to complete laser systems. Its offerings include the HADES family of directed energy high-energy laser weapons for defense applications (counter-UAV, C-RAM, counter-missile), industrial fiber lasers for materials processing, medical fiber lasers for surgical use, semiconductor laser components for OEM integration, and proprietary LIEKKI optical fibers. Defense programs account for approximately 85% of total revenue, with the remainder from industrial and medical customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HADES: Family of scalable high-energy laser effectors and weapons systems designed for land, sea, air, and space defense applications, featuring 70kW, 30kW, and 10kW-class systems.
• AFX (Corona AFX)
• element
• pearl
• Corona

Products and services

• HADES Family of Directed Energy Products Scalable family of high-energy laser effectors and weapons systems for directed energy missions including counter-UAS, counter-rocket/artillery/missile (C-RAM), counter-missile, and advanced air defense. Includes 70kW-class, 30kW-class, and 10kW-class systems leveraging proprietary coherent beam combination, spectral beam combination, and dichroic beam combination technologies with atmospheric correction. Designed for U.S. Department of Defense, allied militaries, and defense prime contractors.
• Additive Fiber Lasers (Corona AFX) Industrial-grade dynamic beam shaping fiber lasers (Corona AFX platform including AFX-2000 2kW model and AFX-200 200W model) capable of dynamically switching between high-resolution single-mode output and high-productivity ring beams. Designed for additive manufacturing applications including powder bed fusion.
• Medical Fiber Lasers 2 micron fiber lasers for medical applications including urological and general surgical procedures, supplied to medical device manufacturers and healthcare providers requiring reliable, high-performance lasers for precision medical procedures.
• Semiconductor Lasers (element and pearl product lines) element: brightest fiber-coupled semiconductor lasers with power levels up to 700W and wavelengths from 793 to 976nm for solid-state and fiber laser pumping. pearl: fiber-coupled single-emitter lasers with wavelengths from 640 to 1550nm for medical, scientific, and aerospace OEM applications. Uses proprietary nXLT high-brightness single-emitter diode technology.
• LIEKKI Optical Fibers Active optical fibers fabricated using nLIGHT's proprietary direct nano-particle deposition process, delivering high performance and high reliability with precise profile and doping control. Manufactured at nLIGHT Oy in Lohja, Finland and supplied for integration into fiber laser systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• Deliveries of 50kW high-energy laser for Army DE M-SHORAD program completed
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Northrop GrummancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong qualification cycles with prime contractor Northrop Grumman for defense laser programs. nLIGHT positioned as key supplier in directed energy weapons supply chain.
• Raytheon TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong qualification cycles with prime contractor Raytheon for defense laser programs. Strategic positioning in defense laser weapons ecosystem.
• AeroVironmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnernLIGHT identified as key supplier to AeroVironment's Locust laser system, featured in 60 Minutes segment on laser weapons as cost-effective solution to drone threats.
• U.S. ArmycoreOthersMajor customer for directed energy programs including DE M-SHORAD (50kW laser delivery completed), HELSI-2 ($171M program), and other defense laser initiatives.
• Lockheed MartinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompetitor and peer in directed energy laser space; Lockheed awarded IFPC-HEL contract ($220.8M) for 300kW laser prototype, later reduced. Pentagon shifting focus to Joint Laser Warfighting System with Navy.
• Electro Optic SystemsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralia-based competitor in laser weapons space. Pentagon notes limited U.S. manufacturing capacity among defense contractors including nLight and Electro Optic Systems.
• AM VenturesminorOthersnLIGHT Market Development Manager Alex Kingsbury participated in Printing Money podcast episode with AM Ventures discussing VC and M&A deals in additive manufacturing.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Raytheon (RTX): Raytheon is a defense prime that partners with and competes against nLIGHT in directed energy laser weapons. Raytheon has its own HEL programs and long qualification cycles that overlap with nLIGHT's defense offerings.
• Lockheed Martin: Lockheed Martin is a major U.S. defense prime that competes with nLIGHT in directed energy weapons, having won the $220.8M IFPC-HEL 300kW laser prototype contract. Both target counter-UAS, C-RAM, and high-energy laser missions for the U.S. DoD and allies.
• L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris is a large U.S. defense prime that competes in directed energy, sensors, and integrated defense systems relevant to nLIGHT's HADES product line. Both target the same U.S. DoD and allied customer base.
• Elbit Systems: Elbit Systems is an Israeli defense electronics company developing directed energy weapons and counter-drone laser systems, competing with nLIGHT in international allied markets including Europe and the Middle East.
• TRUMPF: TRUMPF is a leading European manufacturer of industrial lasers and laser systems, competing with nLIGHT in fiber lasers for materials processing and increasingly in defense laser applications in Europe.

Direct peers

• Coherent Corp: Coherent Corp (formerly II-VI) is a major photonics and laser components company competing with nLIGHT in semiconductor lasers, fiber lasers, and optoelectronic components for industrial and defense markets.
• Electro Optic Systems (EOS): EOS is an Australia-based directed energy laser weapons competitor specifically cited by the Pentagon alongside nLIGHT as having limited U.S. manufacturing capacity. Both target counter-drone and high-energy laser defense missions.
• Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman is both a strategic partner and competitor in directed energy laser weapons, developing high-energy laser systems for the DoD. nLIGHT is positioned as a key subsystem supplier to Northrop's directed energy programs.
• IPG Photonics: IPG Photonics is the global market leader in high-power fiber lasers, competing directly with nLIGHT in industrial cutting/welding and increasingly in defense applications. Both serve materials processing markets with high-power fiber laser technology.
• AeroVironment: AeroVironment is a customer and strategic partner, integrating nLIGHT's lasers into its Locust counter-drone laser weapon system. Both companies serve the counter-UAS defense mission with complementary capabilities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nlight
• Xx.com/nLIGHTJobs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds12 records

Investors6 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A4 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about nLIGHT