TLDR
- Nuburu Inc (NYSE:BURU) shares surged 25% in premarket trading after announcing a strategic joint venture for drone manufacturing
- The partnership with Nuburu Defense LLC and Maddox Defense Incorporated targets a NATO UAV market worth $7-$10.3 billion annually
- The joint venture expects $100 million in annual revenue by 2028 and $165 million cumulative revenue through 2026-2028
- Nuburu Defense will invest up to $10 million while Maddox Defense contributes assets, IP, and specialized personnel
- The venture will use mobile 3D printing technology for field-deployable drone manufacturing with a definitive agreement expected by December 15, 2025
Nuburu Inc stock climbed 25% in premarket trading Wednesday following news of a joint venture agreement in the defense drone sector.
The blue-laser technology company entered a Strategic Framework Agreement with Nuburu Defense LLC and Maddox Defense Incorporated. The collaboration will establish a new entity focused on military and commercial drone systems.
The joint venture will develop, manufacture, and deploy advanced UAV systems for NATO customers. The partners estimate the NATO defense drone market at $7 billion to $10.3 billion per year.
Revenue Projections and Market Opportunity
The JV Company projects approximately $100 million in annual revenue by the end of 2028. Total revenue across 2026 through 2028 is expected to reach roughly $165 million.
Nuburu Defense will contribute up to $10 million in capital funding. Maddox Defense Incorporated brings eligible assets, intellectual property, and personnel with Special Forces backgrounds.
The parties plan to execute a definitive Joint Venture Agreement by December 15, 2025. The venture will operate under Italian law as a European manufacturing and research facility.
Nuburu Defense will maintain controlling interest in the partnership. Equity ownership will be determined by the assessed value of each party’s contributions.
Advanced Manufacturing Technology
The joint venture will deploy rapid-manufacturing pods for drone production. These mobile units feature polymer and metal 3D printing capabilities.
The technology enables on-demand UAV assembly near operational zones. This approach streamlines logistics and accelerates deployment timelines.
Manufacturing incorporates modular avionics and commercial components. All systems comply with U.S., EU, and NATO export-control regulations.
The partnership combines Maddox Defense’s combat-tested UAV engineering with Nuburu’s blue-laser technology. Maddox Defense’s team includes veterans with direct allied operations experience.
The venture also integrates the Orbit operational-resilience system, which Nuburu recently acquired. This creates synergies across multiple technology platforms.
Regulatory Compliance and Market Strategy
All technologies will meet U.S., EU, and NATO export-control requirements. No transfer of classified defense technology is planned under the agreement.
U.S.-origin technical information remains subject to ITAR and EAR regulations. The venture serves only NATO-authorized programs and allied nations.
Beyond military applications, the 2026-2028 plan includes commercial and civil-sector deployment. This diversification strategy leverages Nuburu’s core technology platforms.
Alessandro Zamboni, Executive Chairman and Co-CEO of Nuburu, called the framework agreement a pivotal expansion step. He highlighted the combination of blue-laser innovation and battlefield-proven UAV design.
Jason Maddox, Founder of Maddox Defense Incorporated, emphasized his team’s combat-tested engineering capabilities. He noted the partnership creates a platform for global defense applications.
Dario Barisoni, CEO of Nuburu Defense LLC, stated the timing aligns with recent acquisitions and Italian government interest. He pointed to the strategic fit with existing partnerships.
The Strategic Framework Agreement includes mutual exclusivity during negotiation. A joint Board of Directors will include representatives from both Nuburu Defense and Maddox Defense Incorporated.
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