nLIGHT Secures $50M Missile Contract as Laser Sensing Fuels Growth
nLIGHT reported laser sensing sales accelerated in 2025, fueled by defense programs with a newly awarded $50 million missile program contract and initiation of low-rate initial production on a classified sensing system in Q4. Existing full-rate production and a pipeline of new programs underpin projected revenue growth of 7% in 2026 and 15% in 2027.
1. Accelerated Laser Sensing Growth in 2025
nLIGHT’s laser sensing segment delivered accelerated growth in 2025 across directed energy and sensing end markets. Its products—used for missile guidance, proximity detection, range finding and countermeasures—are integrated into several long-running defense programs.
2. New $50M Missile Program Contract and Classified Production
In Q3 2025, nLIGHT signed a $50 million contract extension for an existing missile program. In Q4, the company commenced low-rate initial production on a new classified laser sensing system, expanding its defense backlog.
3. Revenue Outlook and Valuation
Full-rate production on existing sensing programs is set to drive most near-term revenues, while new low-rate initiatives support consensus revenue growth estimates of 7% in 2026 and 15% in 2027. Shares trade at a 12.0x forward price-to-sales ratio versus a 7.8x industry average.