Laser Photonics and Fonon Technologies have announced that their Laser Shield Anti-Drone (LSAD) system was named a finalist in the Autonomy, AI, and Cyber Critical Technology Challenge.
Selected for the counter-unmanned aerial systems category, the technology will be present at the Defense TechConnect Innovation Summit & Expo in November.
LSAD provides precision targeting against small drones and is designed to protect forward-operating bases, frontline troops, and key facilities.
The selection serves as validation of the technology by the Pentagon, opening the door for potential upcoming government procurement programs.
VP of Fonon Technologies Bryan Lee said that “with small drones increasingly responsible for battlefield casualties and infrastructure attacks,” LSAD “addresses the urgent mandate from the White House to restore American airspace sovereignty.”
The initiative comes as Washington increases investment in counter-drone systems.
In recent months, while the US Department of Defense established a dedicated counter-drone task force, the Department of Homeland Security announced plans to allocate up to $100 million in contracts.
Defense Innovation Challenges
The TechConnect Critical Technology Challenges are open-innovation competitions that support US defense priorities, focusing on national security and maintaining an edge in critical technology domains.
Organized across multiple technology tracks, the initiative invites innovators from startups, research labs, and universities to present solutions with potential defense, commercial, and dual-use applications.
It encompasses several categories, including autonomy, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and biotechnology.
Selected finalists gain exposure to federal agencies, industry leaders, and private investors, connecting them to more than $8 billion in annual funding channels for emerging technologies.
