$44 million defense contract has Camas-based laser manufacturer nLIGHT looking to growSubscriber Exclusive

Camas-based laser manufacturer nLIGHT expects to expand its local workforce thanks to a massive defense contract announced on July 9.

The company, which currently employs 800 people, has secured a $44 million initial contract with the U.S. Department of War to develop and deliver high-energy laser weapon systems. The contract could expand to as much as $627 million, according to a Thursday news release.

The weapons will be used to counter drone swarms and advanced cruise missile threats.

nLIGHT CEO Scott Keeney said the company is growing not only its defense business, but its manufacturing, space and medical segments as well. This growth will create jobs in Clark County, as well as at nLIGHT’s facility in Colorado.

The award reflects the Department of Defense’s increasing focus on moving from prototype laser weapons to deploying them at scale, Keeney said in the news release.

Keeney said the shift “aligns directly with our strategy to move beyond demonstration programs and into production-oriented platforms that can be fielded across land and maritime environments.”

The contract is a boost for the company, which had $261.3 million in revenue in 2025.

“nLIGHT’s vertically integrated laser architecture, state-of-the-art beam combination, precision tracking expertise, and production-ready high-energy laser solutions position us to deliver reliable, scalable performance in support of next-generation air and missile defense missions,” Keeney said.

The news drove nLIGHT’s stock up 27 percent on July 9. The company trades on the Nasdaq stock exchange as LASR.

Its stock closed July 9 at $74.71 per share, up from its previous close of $58.68 per share.