Laser Photonics shares shot up 121% after its anti-drone system secured a place in a key defense review. New York, June 2, 2026, 13:04 EDT
- Laser Photonics shares jumped over 100% in active Nasdaq trading. The stock surged after the company said its anti-drone system was picked for a U.S. defense evaluation process.
- The company called the move a technical review, saying this is not a booked order.
- Laser Photonics is still listed under a Nasdaq notice over its late quarterly filing, according to a recent SEC filing.
Laser Photonics shares surged over 100% Tuesday after the company said its Laser Shield Anti-Drone system was picked for a U.S. government defense evaluation. The news brought a wave of new trading into the small-cap stock, which has struggled lately due to filing delays.
The stock jumped 121% to $2.05 by 12:49 p.m. EDT, opening at $1.20 and moving in a range from 92.5 cents to $2.18. Volume came in at roughly 120.9 million shares, which was well above typical turnover, according to market data.
Laser Photonics is making progress toward a possible defense test track as armed forces keep looking for tools to counter small drones. But the company said only that it took part in a gated technical exchange. There was no mention of a contract win or new sales in the release.
Laser Photonics said its Laser Shield Anti-Drone system (LSAD) was picked in the Mission Engineering and Integration Activity Vulcan Call for Solutions and listed as a top entry in the Counter C5ISR-T category. C5ISR-T covers command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting—essentially, the tech that lets the military see, decide and act.
Laser Photonics CEO Wayne Tupuola said the pick “validates the mission relevance and readiness” of the firm’s directed-energy tech. The term refers to using focused energy like a laser beam instead of traditional projectiles.
The company said it will move to a direct technical exchange with government engineers next, aimed at validation, scalability and seeing if the system fits mission needs. Systems that clear this round might go to follow-on prototyping or get support for experimentation and transition.
Speculation was a factor in the rally. Laser Photonics, a small player, booked $8.3 million in total net sales for 2025, but ended the year with a net loss of $17.5 million. Revenue climbed thanks to takeovers and industrial demand, but losses stayed wide.
Crowding is ramping up in the counter-drone space. AeroVironment showed off its Locust X3 anti-drone laser, and John Garrity, the company’s vice president of directed energy systems, said militaries are “losing the economics of warfare” by firing pricey interceptors at cheap drones. Axios
Electro Optic Systems, based in Australia, is growing its high-energy anti-drone laser business and has launched a production center in Singapore, targeting customers in the Netherlands and Korea. CEO Andreas Schwer said there’s demand for lower-cost drone defense.
The worry here is Tuesday’s rally may be factoring in more than what’s on the table. Getting picked for a technical exchange doesn’t guarantee a contract. Defense deals can drag on, with multiple testing phases before any significant revenue lands at the company.
Laser Photonics is facing a Nasdaq compliance problem. According to a May 22 SEC filing, Nasdaq notified the company it was out of compliance for not filing its Form 10-Q covering the quarter ending March 31, 2026. The exchange set a 60-day deadline for Laser Photonics to file a plan and said the company could get more time, up to Nov. 16, 2026.
Traders are focused on the anti-drone news for now. The question is if Laser Photonics can move from technical review to a funded program, and sort out its reporting schedule.
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