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Date Announced: 23 Oct 2025
Defense and commercial drone sector has "projected annual revenue approaching $100 M by 2028".
Centennial, CO -- Nuburu, a developer of blue-laser technology, has entered into a Strategic Framework Agreement with Nuburu Defense LLC and Maddox Defense to establish a joint-venture company.
Controlled by Nuburu Defense, the JV Company will focus on the compliant development, manufacturing, and deployment of advanced drone systems for both military and commercial applications.
The JV Company will design, manufacture, and deploy adaptable military drones for NATO and allied customers, leveraging the combined technical and operational expertise of Nuburu Defense and Maddox Defense Incorporated. The parties estimate the NATO UAV defense market opportunity at approximately $7 – $10.3 billion annually.
In addition to defense programs, the JV Company’s 2026–2028 plan includes a comprehensive go-to-market strategy for commercial and civil-sector drone deployment, built on synergies with Nuburu’s core blue-laser platform, the Orbit operational-resilience system (recently acquired under controlling interest), and Tekne’s defense-mobility suite.
The JV anticipates reaching approximately $100 million in annual revenue by the end of 2028 and roughly $165 million cumulative across 2026–2028. Operations will utilize rapid-manufacturing pods capable of deployable field fabrication through polymer and metal 3D printing, modular avionics, and scalable commercial components.
These mobile production units enable on-demand UAV assembly and re-configuration near operational zones while remaining compliant with applicable export-control laws.
Under the Strategic Framework Agreement, the parties intend to execute a definitive Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) on or before December 15, 2025, establishing the JV Company under Italian law as a European-based manufacturing and research hub.
The collaboration will integrate complementary technologies for NATO-authorized programs while maintaining full U.S. export-control compliance. No transfer of U.S.-controlled defense technology or classified data is contemplated; all U.S.-origin technical information remains subject to ITAR and EAR regulations.
Key anticipated terms include:
“This framework agreement marks another pivotal step forward as NUBURU expands its presence across the defense and commercial sectors,” said Alessandro Zamboni, Executive Chairman and Co-CEO of Nuburu.
“Our blue-laser innovation, paired with Maddox Defense’s battlefield-proven UAV design and the capabilities of our Orbit platform, positions this JV to deliver next-generation, compliant drone solutions. We also anticipate strong synergies with Tekne’s mobility technologies and client base.”
“Maddox Defense is thrilled to partner with Nuburu to deliver advanced drone capabilities to NATO and civilian markets,” said Jason Maddox, Founder of Maddox Defense Incorporated. “Our Special Forces and intelligence-veteran engineering team brings combat-tested innovation and design intelligence — including direct experience supporting allied operations — that, when combined with NUBURU’s laser systems and Orbit’s resilience tools, creates a formidable platform for global defense and security.”
“This venture enables Nuburu Defense to extend our mission-critical laser solutions into the rapidly expanding drone domain,” added Dario Barisoni, CEO of Nuburu Defense LLC.
“Together with Maddox Defense, we’re aligning innovation, rapid deployment, and regulatory compliance to meet NATO-standardized operational requirements. The launch of the JV has ideal timing considering the acquisition secured with Orbit and the recent interest of the Italian Government in Tekne which has a perfect fit with the strategic and industrial alliance we have been building up with the company.”
All technologies and systems developed by the JV Company will be designed and manufactured in full accordance with applicable U.S., EU, and NATO export-control laws, ensuring responsible deployment of defense technologies solely to authorized partners and allied nations.
E-mail: sales@nuburu.net
Web Site: www.nuburu.net
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