Navies queue up for billion-dollar European miltech company which humbles fiber-optic
Optics11 is attracting naval interest with fiber-optic sensors that detect underwater sounds, while expanding partnerships, trials, and classified defense applications.
European defense technology firm Optics11 is garnering significant interest from navies worldwide, as it develops cutting-edge underwater surveillance systems. The company's sensors boast the ability to detect oil tankers from up to 100 kilometers away, providing an alternative to traditional underwater detection methods. Optics11's CEO, Paul Heiden, has already onboarded between five and ten naval customers, with plans for approximately 35 paid evaluations by 2026.
The technology harnesses light traveling through optical fibers to identify acoustic disturbances in the water, offering an innovative solution for monitoring maritime traffic, identifying unusual underwater activity, and supporting anti-submarine surveillance operations.
Optics11 offers two principal systems: OptiBarrier for fixed underwater surveillance and OptiArray, a towed sensor arrangement. The company collaborates with industry heavyweights such as Saab, Rheinmetall, Fincantieri, Thales, and Exail, as well as Ocean Infinity, which secured an underwater surveillance contract for the Royal Netherlands Navy's future Orka-class submarines.
Additionally, Optics11 is in dialogue with several European naval forces, including Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Belgium, and France, with ongoing evaluations in the pipeline.
The company's proprietary software processes the dense datasets generated by its sensors, as conventional third-party sonar applications prove inadequate. This investment in specialized software has allowed Optics11 to maintain a competitive edge while employing a leaner workforce of about 10 specialists, down from the anticipated 60 to 80 positions.
The company's financial strategy includes a recent €100 million fundraising round, including €25 million in venture debt from the European Investment Bank, with plans to secure another funding round in 2027, potentially reaching a valuation surpassing $1 billion. Despite the current lack of profitability, Optics11 anticipates achieving cash flow in 2028, as the company continues to expand its presence across Southeast Asia and the Middle East through additional offices and recruitment initiatives.
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