Elbit Reports Record Demand for Laser Targeting Systems

Why It Matters

The growth underscores laser targeting as a cornerstone of networked, drone‑centric warfare, positioning Elbit as a pivotal supplier for NATO and allied forces and shaping future defence procurement priorities.

Key Takeaways

• 2025 demand for Elbit LTD systems hit record levels
• NATO‑compatible lasers enable coalition targeting interoperability
• Plug‑and‑play design reduces field maintenance downtime
• Integration accelerates sensor‑to‑shooter cycle in drone battles
• Development targets smaller, higher‑energy lasers for future platforms

Pulse Analysis

The surge in demand for laser target designators mirrors a broader shift toward precision‑focused combat. As militaries confront faster, more mobile threats, the ability to designate targets in real time—especially from unmanned aerial systems—has become a decisive advantage. NATO‑standard laser coding ensures that allied forces can share targeting data seamlessly, reducing friction in joint operations and accelerating the kill chain. This trend is evident across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, where procurement budgets increasingly allocate funds to electro‑optical and laser‑based solutions.

Elbit Systems leverages its long‑standing expertise in electro‑optical technology to meet this market appetite. Its LTD portfolio combines NATO interoperability with a single line‑replaceable unit architecture, allowing operators to swap components on the battlefield without specialised tools. Integration with C4I architectures means targeting data flows directly into command networks, shortening the sensor‑to‑shooter interval and enhancing coordination between drones, ground units, and strike platforms. These capabilities differentiate Elbit from competitors that rely on legacy, bulkier systems, reinforcing its position as a preferred supplier for coalition forces seeking low‑maintenance, high‑availability solutions.

Looking ahead, the company’s focus on miniaturisation and higher energy output signals an evolution toward next‑generation directed‑energy weapons. Smaller, more powerful lasers could be embedded in lightweight UAVs or even soldier‑borne platforms, expanding the scope of precision engagement. However, achieving these performance gains demands substantial R&D investment, a barrier that limits the competitive field. As defence ministries worldwide prioritize cost‑effective, interoperable technologies, Elbit’s roadmap—coupled with its proven track record—may set the benchmark for future laser‑based targeting and energy‑weapon systems, influencing procurement cycles for years to come.

Elbit reports record demand for laser targeting systems

By Dylan Malyasov · Feb 17 2026 (Modified Feb 17 2026)

Key Points

• Elbit Systems reported record global demand in 2025 for its NATO‑standard laser target designator systems across land and airborne military platforms.

• The systems enable real‑time target designation and data sharing, supporting precision strikes and faster sensor‑to‑shooter coordination in drone‑focused battlefields.

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Israel’s defense company Elbit Systems reported record global demand in 2025 for its Laser Target Designator (LTD) systems across both land and airborne military platforms, reflecting growing reliance on precision targeting and networked battlefield operations, according to company statements and The Jerusalem Post.

The company said its LTD portfolio, compliant with NATO laser‑coding standards, is increasingly used by militaries seeking faster targeting cycles and improved coordination between sensors and strike platforms. The systems are deployed on airborne surveillance payloads, stabilized turrets, and ground‑based command networks, enabling forces to designate targets for precision‑guided weapons in real time.

According to Elbit Systems, all six of its laser designation systems used on land and in the air meet NATO interoperability standards, allowing coalition forces to operate using shared targeting protocols. The company stated that this compatibility enables smoother coordination during multinational operations and joint missions.

Laser target designators use focused laser beams to mark a target so compatible guided munitions can lock onto the reflected signal and strike with precision. The growing use of such systems reflects changes in battlefield dynamics, where mobile targets and short engagement windows require rapid identification and engagement.

“Targeting with laser designators is something that takes place a lot on the modern battlefield,” an Elbit official told Defense & Tech by The Jerusalem Post. “This is the main advantage of using a laser designator.”

The official explained that airborne laser designation has become particularly important for tracking moving targets identified through intelligence or surveillance assets. In these scenarios, an aircraft or unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with sensors and a laser designator locks onto a target and guides a munition to complete the strike sequence.

On land, Elbit’s LTD systems integrate with C4I architectures — Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence networks — allowing users to share targeting and laser data securely in real time. The company said this capability helps tighten coordination between units and shortens the sensor‑to‑shooter cycle, a metric increasingly emphasized in modern military doctrine.

Ground‑based designation, however, requires direct line of sight and careful positioning, making terrain familiarity and coordination essential for successful employment, the company official noted.

Elbit attributed part of the increased demand to the system’s simplified maintenance concept. The LTD uses what the company described as a single line‑replaceable unit (LRU), plug‑and‑play design. This allows operators to remove and replace components in the field without specialized tools or returning equipment for depot‑level repair, reducing downtime during operations.

The surge in interest also reflects the rapid expansion of drone usage across modern conflicts.

“The whole battlefield has changed. We have a lot of drones in the field,” the official said, noting that missions once performed by larger UAVs or ground teams are now increasingly conducted by smaller unmanned platforms equipped with integrated laser designation capability.

Despite growing demand, the official emphasized that developing precision laser systems remains technically demanding.

“It requires a huge investment in R&D,” he said. “There are not many companies in the world capable of doing that. We are one of the largest companies in the world to bring this kind of laser designation.”

The laser technologies form part of Elbit’s ISTAR division, which develops electro‑optical systems, laser range‑finders, and targeting solutions integrated into vehicles and airborne platforms. The company also contributes laser components used in advanced directed‑energy programs, including systems linked to Israel’s Iron Beam air‑defense effort deployed in late 2025.

Elbit said current development priorities focus on reducing size and weight while increasing energy output.

“Today, what is important is to build a very small laser with very high energy,” the official said, describing ongoing efforts toward miniaturisation and efficiency improvements.