Insights

Episode 5 – The 10-Meter Kill Zone for Signals

September 29, 2025

Alain Gavin

Alain Gavin

Managing Partner - Chief Investment Officer

Laser Communications Footprint vs. Traditional RF

Laser communications reduce the signal footprint from kilometers to just 10–200 meters. Compared to traditional RF systems’ wide-area dispersion, this extremely narrow beam makes links nearly impossible to jam, intercept, or geolocate — giving a decisive edge in contested environments.

View All figures →

The 10-Meter Kill Zone: Laser Communications as Defence Infrastructure

Electronic warfare is often called “the first shot fired.” From Ukraine’s frontlines to deterrence operations in the Pacific, the ability to communicate securely, rapidly, and without detection has become a strategic necessity.

Traditional radio communications are easy to jam, intercept, or target. Laser communications change the game. With a beam footprint as small as 10 meters, they’re nearly impossible to jam or detect — even in highly contested environments.

This episode of Tech Command Investing explores how laser communications are moving from niche experiments to mission-critical infrastructure for defence, space, and civilian connectivity.

Breaking Through the Turbulence: The Future of Space-Enabled Connectivity

Laser communications aren’t just a step forward. They represent a whole new frontier for defence, connectivity, and global infrastructure. With data demands skyrocketing and RF networks approaching their limits, optical satellite links are fast emerging as the backbone of tomorrow’s secure, high-throughput systems.

In this episode, I sit down with Jean-François Morizur, Founder & CEO of Cailabs, to explore the rise of dual-use laser communications and their strategic potential. From battlefield coordination to autonomous operations, we uncover how this French deep-tech startup is carving out a critical role in one of the most advanced corners of space and defence technology.

Jean-François unpacks the breakthrough that’s helping Cailabs overcome atmospheric turbulence, one of the last great technical hurdles to scaling laser communications, and explains why this could unlock real-time, unjammable connectivity between orbit and Earth.

We also dive into the investor landscape, the battle for spectrum dominance, and how AI is fuelling unprecedented demand for high-bandwidth, low-latency links from space to edge. With €46 million raised and defence agencies already taking notice, this conversation charts where laser communications are heading and why they might soon be as essential as GPS.

Key Takeaways:

  • Near-impossible to jam or intercept compared to traditional radio.
  • Orders-of-magnitude higher bandwidth, powering AI, ISR, and finance.
  • Bypassing spectrum battles, offering frictionless, secure global connectivity.
  • Strategic dual-use impact, spanning defence, telecoms, disaster relief, and sovereignty.

From ISR to finance, disaster relief to telecoms, laser communications could redefine how power, data, and security are projected on a global scale. As militaries and industries rethink contested connectivity, laser communications are shifting from a “nice-to-have” to the infrastructure of space-enabled security and sovereignty.

Additional resources from this episode:

🎧 Listen now:
[Amazon Music] | [Spotify] | [Apple Podcasts] | [YouTube] | [Audible]

What People Say About PSION

Alain went beyond imaginable limits with his ability and professional VC expertise to coordinate our fundraising activities at CyStellar. His capability to deeply understand our company’s vision and match it with the right investors was crucial in shortening the time to closing the investment.

Alain helped us with the investment strategy, corporate restructuring, pitch deck, building an investor funnel and following up with investors, supporting the due diligence process, term sheet negotiations and provide recommendation for legal, financial, and tax advisors.

He’s really made a difference in our start-up success to raise its first seed round!

I chose him to join our Board as independent Non-Executive Director where he continues to add value to the strategic direction of the company.

Peter Bunus

CEO and Co-Founder - CyStellar

It has been exceptional working with Alain over the past few months to develop Skyrora’s financial model and business plan. Alain quickly understood the key drivers of the business, and he was able to combine them with his deep knowledge of the investment industry to ensure our model is well received by investors. He paid detailed attention to intricacies, such as revenue recognition and worked hand-in-hand with us to resolve all difficulties. 

Alain went far beyond what was expected and put us on track to successfully close our funding round. I highly recommend him.


Victor Ivanenko

CFO – SKYRORA (Rocket company)

Alain carried out due diligence on a complex, fast moving business. He worked very long hours and his efforts exceeded the amount of time that was expected. 

He did a deeply researched analysis of the business involved and the sector that it was trading in, as a result of which we made an investment in the target company. In addition, he carried out due diligence on two other companies, a high technology business with several valuable patents based on the West Coast of the USA, and a company supplying communications solutions to the global railways sector. 

Alain and I are discussing several further opportunities of working together.


Simon Hunt

Fund manager

Alain possesses superior organisational, planning and interpersonal skills. As CEO of the business we began together, and as the primary partner in the enterprise, he demonstrated his ability to build and motivate a team, and guided the group towards creative goals and solutions. 

Alain involves others, encourages their strategies for finding solutions and secures maximum commitment from each team member. He also achieved good results when negotiating.

Personally, I find Alain to be a bright and engaging individual. He has a breath of international experience which I find particularly interesting and has a collegial manner which enables him to work effectively with others.

Michael Buxton

Co-investor & entrepreneur

Alain produced an Information Memorandum for Microbus for new investors, he was extremely diligent and picked up the complexity of what is a highly technical niche market very quickly. Market detail across Europe in the public safety market is limited but Alain managed to access detail that had previously been unattainable. 

He was also very knowledgeable in how to value this type of opportunity and tested these valuations from several directions. He was easy to work with but persistent in ensuring he produced the best possible results. I would recommend Alain to anyone requiring an in depth study of their business.

Reg Marsh

MD and COO in Growth & Turnaround businesses

It was a pleasure working with Mr. Gavin and observing his highly professional attitude and his remarkable energy and perseverance in the work he accomplished. He took initiative even on difficult issues to achieve needed results. His unique motivational drive and energy and collegial manner made him well accepted among those he worked with closely.

Dr. Roland Voigt

ex-CFO - SCHOTT AG

Alain is a wonderful person to work with. His support in Skyrora’s outreach to secure funding was invaluable. In countless calls, we worked out strategies together on how to approach investors. 

Alain always inspired me with his ideas and relentless energy to reach out to the right investors. He helped us to do a ground-up analysis of the competitive and market landscape and convince investors of the immense opportunity in the Space launch industry. 

I would warmly recommend him and am thrilled to have him on board and hope to work with him again to secure our next investment round.

Anfisa Anikushina

M&A, SpaceTech

DOWNLOAD our 5-step guide to investments

By submitting this form you agree that Psion Partners may use your information in accordance with its Privacy Policy

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
PSION Next-gen Venture Capital. Investment guide.PSION Next-gen Venture Capital. Investment guide.