Laser-Based Data Communication

Lithuanian space and defense tech company Astrolight has successfully demonstrated undetectable and unjammable laser-based communication and data transmission with its Polaris terminal during NATO’s latest exercise. It was held in Latvia, on NATO’s Eastern flank, highlighting how the latest technologies can enhance battlefield capabilities in the region. The exercise, called Digital Backbone Experimentation (DiBaX), took place last fall at a Latvian Ādaži military base and virtually across the Alliance. Astrolight placed two Polaris laser terminals on land, operating continuously throughout all 9 days of the exercise, including in rain and fog. During the tests, Polaris successfully demonstrated interoperability with military communication infrastructure, connecting a military base to an ad-hoc remote command post. “As GPS-jamming and interference cases are rising in NATO territories, military communication is becoming a full-scale battlefield. DiBaX demonstrated that our technology can provide the speed, volume, and security of data transmission needed for modern tactical operations on land, which traditional communication methods struggle to support,” said Laurynas Mačiulis, the CEO of Astrolight. Currently, many military operations rely on radio frequencies (RF) for communication. However, radio has key limitations, such as low data transmission speeds and being susceptible to jamming. RF emissions can also be easily detected, revealing the position of military units. The Baltic region is experiencing near-daily electronic warfare pressure, with GPS and RF jamming originating from Russia and the Kaliningrad region intensifying in recent months.  While the Eastern flank is among the most affected areas, these incidents are no longer isolated – similar jamming events have been reported across Europe, the Middle East, and other global hotspots, underscoring the growing need for communication systems that remain operational in contested, RF-denied environments. In contrast, laser communications tested by Astrolight cannot be jammed using conventional electronic warfare equipment, and can transmit data at up to 100 times faster data rates than RF.  “We’ve also showcased that laser communications can deliver consistent and reliable data transmission despite harsh weather conditions: fog, rain, and wind,” Mačiulis said. “To meet demanding NATO requirements, we made Polaris compact, as well as easy to install and deploy across military units and vehicles in sea, land, air, and space operations.”  Astrolight successfully tested Polaris for ship-to-ship communications at the REPMUS/Dynamic Messenger exercise, led by the Portuguese Navy and NATO, respectively, and with the Lithuanian Navy. DiBaX was led by NATO Allied Command Transformation and the Latvian Ministry of Defense, hosted by Latvian Mobile Telephone. The exercise focused on the use of unmanned systems in complex operational environments and applications of artificial intelligence. In recent months, Latvia and other European NATO members, including Lithuania, Poland, and Belgium, have been monitoring and responding to a series of drone incursions coming from Russia, raising concerns about security in the region.