Sentinel Photonics secures investment from FN Browning’s investment fund

The UK’s Sentinel Photonics, which makes advanced laser detection systems, has secured investment from FNX Ventures. The funding will be used to scale production and deployment across Europe.

By Sam Cranny-Evans, editor of Calibre Defence, published on March 24, 2026.

Sentinel Photonics has announced funding from FNX Ventures, the investment fund of FN Browning. FNX partnered with Canadian helmet manufacturer Galvion for the investment, the fund said in its March 13 press release. An undisclosed amount of equity funding has been provided, and FNX has acquired a minority stake in Sentinel Photonics. 

“With the support of FNX Ventures, we will be able to expand our presence across Europe and work more closely with partners to help protect the forward line of European defence,” Dr Chris Burgess, CEO of Sentinel Photonics, said. 

“Sentinel embodies exactly what we look for: an internationally active company, built on outstanding technology and led by ambitious yet pragmatic founders,” FNX General Manager, Thibaut Claes, added in Sentinel’s March 23 press release. 

Calibre spoke with Sean Tipper, CTO of Sentinel Photonics, back in 2025. He explained that the company had been spun out of DSTL, the UK MoD’s defence research arm. At that time, the company had a team of 20, and had two products – FROST and MICRO – actively deployed. 

The company builds products like MICRO that detect laser irradiation, and FROST, that protect against it. Their work started with protecting optics and a particularly horrible range of tools that use lasers to detect an optic through something called retroreflection. When an optic is detected using retroreflection, a much higher pulse of laser energy can be directed at the optic, damaging the user’s eye. 

Calibre comment: Russia’s use of lasers 

When Russia first invaded Ukraine back in 2015, stories eventually emerged of lasers being used to blind Ukrainian soldiers. Using a retroreflection device called PAPV, Russian forces are believed to have deliberately targeted the optics of Ukrainian guards and snipers. But this is far from Russia’s only use of lasers. Its tanks carry them for range finding, and provide a very effective form of fire support on the frontlines in Ukraine. Its drones, especially the Orlan-30, also use lasers to provide targeting coordinates and guidance for the guided 152 mm Krasnopol artillery round. Russia’s potent anti-tank guided missiles use laser beams for guidance and control. 

Sentinel Photonics is developing a range of portable systems that would help frontline forces detect these lasers. This includes vehicles as well as personnel. Detection would enable them to make choices about taking cover or other action that could save their lives.

If you would like to read more about Sentinel Photonics, as well as Galvion, check out the links below: 

• Calibre interview: Sean Tipper, CTO at Sentinel Photonics 
• DSEI UK 2025: First Look at LASERD MAX and ECHO – Calibre Defence 
• Calibre interview: Todd Stirtzinger, CEO of Galvion 

The lead image shows the Sentinel Photonics Laserd MAX, which is designed to provide laser intelligence. Credit: Sentinel Photonics.