Join us for an insightful online meeting where we discuss the latest report – Photonics in Defense.
The ‘European Defence Readiness 2030‘ initiative is accelerating research, development, and procurement of advanced technologies to reinforce Europe’s strategic autonomy and industrial competitiveness. Within this framework, flagship projects outlined in the associated roadmap emphasize the rising demand for photonics-based equipment, recognizing its pivotal role in sensing, communication, and secure information processing.
This presentation analyzes the integration of photonic technologies into European defense R&D and procurement strategies, highlighting their deployment across military platforms. Applications such as advanced imaging sensors, laser-based effectors and countermeasures, LiDAR, and RF photonics will be explored. Key techniques and devices — including free-space optical communication, optical gyroscopes, and short-wave infrared (SWIR) imaging — will be detailed to illustrate their contribution to operational effectiveness, resilience, and technological superiority.
The session concludes with a forward-looking perspective on emerging developments, from disruptive advances in quantum photonics and integrated optical systems to scalable manufacturing approaches. By linking European R&D roadmaps with practical defense applications, the presentation underscores photonics as a cornerstone technology for next-generation military capability and strategic sovereignty.
This technology report is dedicated to EPIC members only.
Dr. Hans Dieter Tholl is an independent Innovation, Research, and Technology Advisory Partner (IRTAP), supporting companies and institutions in seizing emerging opportunities across defense and industry.
Hans spent over 30 years at Diehl Defence, where he led the Competence Centre for Electro-Optics & Electro-Mechanics, advancing optics, optronics, laser technologies, and optical/RF sensor integration into dual-mode seeker systems. Prior to this, he served as a Research Professor at the University of Nevada, USA, and as Group Leader of Optical Metrology at RWTH Aachen’s Mechanical Engineering Faculty. He holds a Diploma in Quantum Field Theory (1985) and a Doctorate in Optical Physics (1990), both from RWTH Aachen University.
Hans plays an active role in the global scientific and engineering community, serving on editorial boards, organizing international conferences, and holding lifetime memberships with SPIE, OSA, and the American Association of Physics Teachers. Alongside his engineering leadership, he has maintained a strong commitment to education, lecturing at RWTH Aachen, University of Nevada, TU Ravensburg-Weingarten, and contributing to German Military Forces’ training programs. He continues to teach at the Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University and the Carl-Crantz-Gesellschaft.
