NATO Tests Laser Communication System, Marking a Shift Away From Radio Frequency
A new laser-based communication system developed by Lithuanian tech firm Astrolight successfully handled communications during NATO’s largest annual naval exercise, REPMUS 2025, signaling a potential revolution in secure maritime and space communications. The technology offers a compelling alternative to traditional radio-frequency systems, particularly as threats to those systems increase.
The Limitations of Traditional Maritime Communication
For decades, seafarers have relied on radio-frequency (RF) systems to communicate. While effective, these systems are vulnerable to interception and jamming, presenting significant challenges for sensitive missions requiring discretion. Catching a reliable signal at sea is often difficult, further complicating matters. Astrolight’s innovation aims to address these shortcomings with a fundamentally different approach.
Introducing POLARIS: A Laser-Based Solution
Astrolight’s POLARIS is a “small, gimballed free space optical (FSO) communication solution” designed for large naval vessels. Weighing approximately 35 pounds (16 kilograms), the system converts data into a binary format and transmits it as a light signal. This technology, while sophisticated in its application, shares roots with the simplified versions found in everyday devices like remote controls. The key lies in its ability to transmit data through “free space”—air, outer space, or even a vacuum—offering remarkable flexibility.
According to a company release, Astrolight installed two POLARIS terminals on different ships during REPMUS 2025, navigating a rough stretch of the Baltic Sea with rainy conditions. Despite the challenging environment, the terminals successfully established and maintained a communication link. “We were still able to establish and maintain a communication link between the ships,” stated a company representative. The Lithuanian Navy, a customer of Astrolight, expressed “very satisfied” results with the system’s performance.
Unjammable and Undetectable: The Advantages of Laser Communication
The POLARIS system achieved a “radio-silent, unjammable, and undetectable communication link” between the ships, as reported by DIANA, a NATO initiative focused on leveraging private sector technology for security solutions. Impressively, the terminals exceeded initial expectations, establishing a secure connection over a 9-mile (15-kilometer) range – a 200% improvement over target goals.
Beyond range, the system demonstrated significant data processing capabilities. Astrolight’s statement indicates that POLARIS successfully processed gigabytes of data, supporting “more than 10 concurrent, real-time HD video streams, even through rain and fog, during the day and night.” This level of performance underscores the system’s robustness and reliability in challenging conditions.
Addressing Rising Threats and Expanding Applications
The development of POLARIS was driven, in part, by the increasing prevalence of GPS jamming attacks within NATO territories. “With persistent and rising GPS jamming attacks in NATO territories, we needed to test [POLARIS] in real-life conditions as soon as possible,” explained a senior official at Astrolight. The successful testing confirms laser technology as a viable alternative to RF-based communication.
Astrolight’s immediate plans involve expanding the use of POLARIS terminals on additional ships. The company is also exploring potential applications in harsh environments like the Arctic, where reliable communication is critical for research operations.
Looking to the Stars: The ATLAS-2 Project
Astrolight’s ambitions extend beyond maritime applications. The company is developing ATLAS-2, an optical terminal designed to support satellite communications. Currently slated for launch in early 2026, ATLAS-2 represents a significant step toward establishing a secure, optical communication network in space.
With the success of POLARIS, Astrolight is poised to become a key player in the future of secure communication, both on Earth and beyond. The shift from radio waves to lasers represents a fundamental change in how we connect, offering increased security and reliability in an increasingly complex world.
