Sentinel Photonics

Lasersüsteemidesse investeeritakse kogu maailmas hetkel laialdaselt – valitsusasutustest kuni allilmaga seotud kartellideni ja kõigini, kes jäävad nende vahele. Laserite kasutusvõimaluste mitmekesisus on lõputu.

Laser Threats & Intelligence

Currently, you don’t know how often you are targeted with lasers or why. This is the most dangerous place to be, you do not know what you don’t know! This thread should enlighten you to the threats being faced on todays frontlines, from warzones to borders & the open seas to the underworld. There is extensive investment in lasers across the globe, from government organisations to underworld cartels and all in between. With an unending variety of uses for lasers, I will introduce what our products deal with:

• Retro Reflection Devices (RRDs) – Use lasers that target optics & electro-optics identifying them & the user/ vehicle.
• Dazzling Lasers (temporary & permanent blindness) – Used to attack your eyes, optics, electro optics & deny equipment.
• Laser Range Finders (LRFs) (Commercial & Military) – Used to range targets before firing or to call in accurate Indirect Fire when using map & compass.
• Laser Target Designators (LTDs) – Used to precisely engage any target visible to the LTD, guiding variable munitions from land, sea & air.
• Laser Intelligence (LASINT) – Identifies when, where & what lasers are being used.

Sentinel Photonics – Countermeasures

• FROST – Filters that stealth your optic/ electro-optic against retro reflection & dazzling (blinding) lasers.
• LASERD Micro (Universal) – 200g universal man portable laser warning system (LRFs (Commercial & Military) & LTDs).
• LASERD Nomad (Vehicle) – vehicle laser warning system (LRFs (Commercial & Military) & LTDs).
• LASERD Max (Universal) – Laser Intelligence (LASINT) device capable of detecting & decoding any laser at any range that reaches it. Automatic geolocating & targeting of each laser source with context image for users to make final decisions.

Just because you can not see it, does not mean it is not there

Read more about one of the more prevelant threats from Russian army by klicking: https://www.eqqus.ee/sosna-ja-sosna-n/

Designators

• Laser designators are used to “paint” a target with an invisible laser beam, allowing laser-guided bombs, missiles, or artillery shells to lock on and strike precisely.
• Often used by ground forces, aircraft, or drones to mark enemy vehicles, bunkers, or infrastructure for attack.

Threat:

• If an enemy spots laser designation, it means an attack is imminent. Soldiers trained in countermeasures can try to move or disrupt the laser.

Rangefinders

• Laser rangefinders measure the distance to a target by bouncing a laser off it and calculating the return time.
• Used in military applications for targeting, sniper calculations, and artillery adjustments.

Threat:

• Rangefinders themselves don’t pose a direct threat, but they are often used alongside weapons, meaning detection of a rangefinder could indicate an enemy is preparing to engage.

Beamriders

• A beamrider is a guidance system where a missile follows a laser beam to its target.
• Unlike laser-guided weapons that home in on a reflected signal from a designator, beamriders stay inside the laser path emitted by the launcher.

Threat:

• Because beamriding missiles are often fast and precise, they are difficult to counter once launched.

Illuminators

• Laser illuminators are used to enhance visibility for sensors, night vision, and targeting systems.
• Infrared (IR) versions are commonly used by special forces for covert target marking.

Threat:

• While they don’t directly harm targets, laser illuminators can be used to detect, track, and highlight enemy positions for follow-up attacks.

LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging)

• Uses laser pulses to create 3D maps of terrain, buildings, or enemy positions.
• Used in reconnaissance, autonomous vehicles, and battlefield surveillance.

Threat:

• LIDAR itself is not an attack system, but it can be used to improve targeting and intelligence gathering, making enemy operations more effective.

Retro Detectors

• Retro detectors scan for laser reflections to identify if an enemy is using optical devices like scopes, binoculars, or cameras.
• They help detect snipers, hidden observers, or surveillance equipment.

Threat:

• If an enemy is using a retro detector, it means they are actively searching for and identifying threats, which can compromise stealth and increase the risk of being targeted.

Laser-Based Communications & Microphones

• Lasers can be used for long-range, highly secure communication by transmitting data through modulated laser beams.
• Laser microphones can pick up vibrations from surfaces like windows and convert them into sound, allowing for covert eavesdropping.

Threat:

• While not a physical attack, laser-based communication interception or surveillance can lead to major security risks by gathering intelligence unnoticed.

LDEW (Laser-Directed Energy Weapons)

• High-power laser weapons designed to disable or destroy targets using concentrated energy.
• Used for shooting down drones, missiles, or even disabling vehicles and electronic systems.

Threat:

• LDEWs can instantly destroy or disable critical targets, and their silent, speed-of-light attack makes them difficult to counter once activated.

Sentinel Photonics is a UK-based company specializing in advanced laser detection and protection systems designed to safeguard users and equipment from laser threats. Established in 2019 as a spin-out from the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), the company leverages over two decades of expertise in laser systems, optics, and threat mitigation.

The company’s product portfolio includes:

• LASERD®: A family of laser signal and event recording devices capable of real-time detection and decoding of laser threats. Notable models are:

  • LASERD® MAX: Offers comprehensive laser detection and intelligence-gathering capabilities against a wide range of real-world threats.
  • LASERD® MICRO: A compact laser threat detector designed to alert military users to pulsed laser radiation associated with laser designators and rangefinders.
  • LASERD® OEM: Built with modular, interchangeable sensor units for customizable integration.

• FROST: A series of protective filters attachable to the objective lenses of optics, designed to prevent detection via laser illumination and protect against retroreflection risks.

Sentinel Photonics serves various markets, including defense and security sectors, providing solutions for land (dismounted and mounted), air, and naval forces. Their products are designed to improve operational performance and safety by delivering real-time intelligence and protection against laser-based threats.

In February 2025, the company expanded its European presence by partnering with StarC4SYS in Romania and TBM Netherlands in the Benelux region. These strategic partnerships aim to enhance local expertise, streamline access to Sentinel’s detection systems, and ensure robust technical support for military and security organizations in these regions.

Sentinel Photonics operates from facilities at Cody Technology Park in Farnborough and Porton Science Park in Wiltshire, adhering to ISO9001-certified manufacturing processes to ensure high-quality solutions for defense and security applications.

What does FROST do?

FROST is a specialized protective filter designed to attach to the lenses of optical devices, such as rifle scopes, binoculars, and other targeting systems. Its primary purpose is to prevent laser-based detection and protect users from potential threats associated with laser illumination.

In many military and security situations, adversaries use lasers to detect and track optical equipment. When a laser beam hits an unprotected lens, some of the light can reflect back, similar to how an animal’s eyes glow in the dark when exposed to light. This reflection can reveal the user’s location, making them vulnerable to detection and targeting.

FROST works by absorbing or deflecting incoming laser light, preventing it from bouncing back and exposing the operator. This protection is crucial for soldiers, snipers, and security forces who rely on optical devices in the field. By reducing the risk of laser-based detection, FROST helps maintain stealth, improve operational security, and enhance overall safety in high-risk environments. It protects agains all wavelenghts!

Enhanced Signature Management: They reduce the optic’s overall signature, making it less visible to detection systems, which are currently being used to detect and target EDF troops.

Counter Surveillance: They prevent the optic and its users from being detected by laser retroreflection, making it harder for adversaries to target the user. This is applicable to all unprotected optics.

Laser Protection: If detected, they protect optics and the users vision from damage caused by high-powered laser beams, such as those emitted by laser rangefinders and designators.

What is LASERD about?

LASERD is a family of advanced laser detection and recording systems designed to help military and security personnel identify and respond to laser-based threats in real time. These devices detect, analyze, and record laser signals, providing critical intelligence on potential threats such as laser designators, rangefinders, and targeting systems used by adversaries.

Laser threats are a growing concern in modern combat and security operations. Many militaries and hostile groups use laser-based equipment to mark targets, measure distances, or even disable optical sensors. Without proper detection, these lasers can be used to locate, track, and attack personnel and assets before they even realize they are being targeted.

LASERD systems work by continuously scanning the environment for laser activity. When a laser is detected, the device not only alerts the user but also records key details such as the wavelength, pulse pattern, and source direction. This information helps operators determine whether the laser is a harmless rangefinder or a more serious threat, like a weapon guidance system.

By providing real-time awareness of laser threats, LASERD enhances situational awareness, improves decision-making, and helps protect personnel from potentially dangerous laser-based targeting systems.

Autonomous threat scanning: It can automatically scan for laser threats in a designated area, allowing the user to understand what threats they are currently facing.

Comprehensive laser detection: It can detect a wide range of laser threats, including those from laser rangefinders and designators. This ensures that laser threats are identified and reduce the potential of your own troops being accidentally targeted.

Laser microphone detection: It can detect laser microphones, which are used to eavesdrop on conversations.  A technique which is being used more and more by foreign adversaries to gain valuable intelligence.