Nuburu, a Colorado-based company, has announced a joint venture with Maddox Defence Inc of Houston, Texas, to design and manufacture military drones for NATO and allied customers. The partnership will establish a new company controlled by Nuburu Defense LLC, combining Nuburu’s laser technology with Maddox Defense’s UAV design experience. The companies estimate the NATO UAV defense market opportunity at $7-10 billion annually.
The joint venture plans to use additive manufacturing as a key component of its production strategy. Operations will utilize mobile manufacturing pods capable of on-demand UAV assembly and reconfiguration near operational zones through 3D printing, modular avionics, and commercial components. This approach aims to enable rapid deployment while maintaining compliance with export-control regulations.
Under the framework agreement, the companies intend to finalize a definitive joint venture agreement by December 15, 2025. Nuburu Defense will contribute up to $10 million in capital funding, while Maddox Defense will provide assets, intellectual property, and personnel. The new company will be established under Italian law as a European manufacturing and research hub.
The joint venture projects reaching approximately $100 million in annual revenue by the end of 2028, with roughly $165 million cumulative revenue across 2026-2028. Beyond defense programs, the company’s 2026-2028 plan includes expansion into commercial and civil-sector drone markets.
“This framework agreement marks another pivotal step forward as Nuburu expands its presence across the defence and commercial sectors,” stated Alessandro Zamboni, executive chairman and co-CEO of Nuburu. “Our blue-laser innovation, paired with Maddox Defense’s battlefield-proven UAV design and the capabilities of our Orbit platform, positions this JV to deliver next-generation, compliant drone solutions.”
Source: metal-am.com
