Seeing and stopping what radar cannot
Small unmanned aerial systems have become the defining threat to military bases, critical infrastructure and controlled airspace. They are cheap, widely available and increasingly used against targets that were previously beyond reach.
Countering them requires detection, classification, identification and, where authorised, a response. Radar and radio frequency systems handle parts of that chain. What they struggle with is exactly what matters most: positive visual identification of a small, low-flying target in cluttered terrain, at night.
Betalight Tactical supplies the optical layer. Long-range LEP illumination for identification at operational distances, infrared for covert detection, and directed light for non-lethal deterrence once a threat is confirmed.
Systems for C-UAS deployment
| Platform | Role |
|---|---|
| Betalight B60 | Portable and vehicle-mounted searchlight. 9,000,000 candela, 6 km range, IR and green laser options, RS232 control |
| Betalight B130 | Tactical integrable searchlight for fixed installation and platform integration |
| Betalight B120 | LEP weapon light and laser module for weapon-mounted engagement support |
| Multifunctional PTZ | Pan-tilt-zoom platform with integrated long-range searchlight for fixed-site surveillance |
For weapon station and remote weapon system integration, we develop custom configurations reaching up to 20,250,000 candela with beam ranges to 9 km, including integrated IR laser and green dazzler modules.
Why beam concentration decides everything at altitude
A drone at 800 metres is a target roughly 40 centimetres across. Illuminating it is not a question of raw output. It is a question of how much of that output actually lands on the airframe.
A conventional LED searchlight spreads its beam widely, so most of the light falls on empty sky. Laser Excited Phosphor works differently. The emitting surface is far smaller than an LED array, which means the beam can be collimated far more tightly.
The Betalight B60 produces 9,000,000 candela in a beam measuring 17 metres across at 1,000 metres. That concentration is what puts usable light on a small airborne target at range, and it is why LEP outperforms LED for counter-drone work regardless of comparable lumen figures. Beam width adjusts from 1 to 25 degrees under motorised control, so the same unit narrows for identification at distance and widens for tracking a manoeuvring target closer in.
Covert detection with infrared illumination
Optical detection at night requires illumination, and illumination the drone operator can see defeats the purpose.
Our LEP platforms are available with infrared output at 850 nm and 940 nm. The 940 nm option sits far enough into the infrared band to be effectively invisible to night vision equipment while still registering strongly on standard CMOS camera sensors, which is the balance that matters when the detection system itself needs to stay covert.
This gives camera-based classification systems the illumination they need to work in complete darkness, without announcing the position of the sensor.
Non-lethal deterrence and optical disruption
Once a UAS is confirmed as a threat, directed light provides a proportionate response before any kinetic option is considered.
High-intensity white light functions as a warning and degrades the operator’s video feed. Most commercial and modified UAS platforms rely entirely on an optical camera for navigation and targeting, and a concentrated beam on that sensor removes the operator’s situational awareness.
Strobe mode is more disruptive still, interfering with the frame capture of the camera and making the feed difficult to interpret or fly from.
Green laser dazzler, available at 523 nm, provides targeted optical deterrence at extended range where white light alone is insufficient. All modes are independently controllable and can be pre-programmed into standard operating procedures or operated from a control room.
Integration with detection architectures
Optical illumination is one layer of a counter-UAS system, not the whole of it. Our platforms are designed to sit alongside radar, RF detection and acoustic sensors rather than replace them.
RS232 computer control allows the searchlight to be slewed and its beam width adjusted automatically on cue from a detection system, so the illumination follows the track without an operator manually acquiring the target. Motorised beam control means the system can narrow as the sensor zooms, keeping coverage matched to the field of view.
For programme-level integration, our team works directly with system integrators and platform OEMs on configuration, control interfaces and mounting.
Frequently Asked Questions
The B90 provides approximately 2 hours of runtime on high mode using a quality 18650 battery.
Yes, it has an IP68 rating, which means it is fully waterproof and dustproof.
Yes, the adjustable reflector allows you to focus for long-distance spotlighting or flood coverage.
Yes, one high-capacity 18650 rechargeable battery and charger are included with the light.