Safran develops Laser Optical Communications

Safran Electronics & Defense is pioneering a cutting-edge solution for optical communication using laser technology. This innovation will enable armed forces to exchange data at ultra-high speeds, without the risk of jamming or interception. It draws on the company’s extensive expertise in inertial navigation, optronics, and communications.

The system is based on terminals designed to both transmit and receive data via laser. One terminal encodes data into a laser beam, while the other decodes it into digital information. This allows for the secure transmission of messages, images, and video over distances spanning tens of kilometers, or even further when combined with relay satellites.

Laser optical links offer distinct advantages over traditional radio communication, such as higher discretion, resistance to interference, and vastly superior data throughput, with speeds ranging from 5 Gb/s to 50 Gb/s. This is especially crucial as data volumes surge and AI-driven applications become more widespread.

One of the key challenges of this system is ensuring a stable line of sight between terminals during data transmission, even in demanding conditions like rough seas in naval operations. Safran Electronics & Defense has overcome this hurdle by leveraging its expertise in mobile platform-mounted optronic sights and satellite communication technologies.

"We’re among the few companies worldwide capable of developing this technology on a large scale for military use," says Alexandre Ziegler, Executive VP of Safran Electronics & Defense’s Defense Global Business Unit. "We have full sovereign control over all necessary components, and our teams possess a deep understanding of military needs across land, sea, air, and space domains."