Rheinmetall Waffe Munition and MBDA Deutschland have been selected by the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) to develop a high-energy laser weapon system for the German Navy.
The agreement, signed on 9 July 2026, is said to be valued in the mid three-digit million-euro range.
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Rheinmetall and MBDA are currently establishing a joint venture, High-Energy Laser Naval Demonstrator Working Group (ARGE HEL), to oversee the project.
The companies are tasked with the creation of a complete maritime laser system.
The system, which will feature technology for reconnaissance, target tracking, and engagement, is scheduled for operational deployment in 2029.
According to the companies, the forthcoming system will rely heavily on German supply chains and domestic technical expertise.
This approach, they say, is intended to preserve national sovereignty in key security technologies.
In recent trials, the naval laser demonstrator was tested in challenging operational environments. During more than a year of deployment aboard the F124 frigate Sachsen, the system travelled 28,000 nautical miles through the North Sea, Baltic Sea, and Mediterranean.
At the Wehrtechnische Dienststelle für Waffen und Munition (WTD91) test facility in Meppen, the system demonstrated its capabilities to senior German officials in March 2026.
Over 1,000 shots targeting air, sea, and land threats were conducted during these trials.
MBDA strategy & future growth executive vice president and MBDA Deutschland managing director Thomas Gottschild said: “The laser weapon system from MBDA and Rheinmetall is a flagship technological project with a very high level of technological maturity.
“It meets the specific requirements of the Bundeswehr and will significantly strengthen the German Navy’s defence capabilities against air, sea and land targets.”
Gottschild added that the containerised laser effector would also be a “cost-effective” solution for port security as well as other applications.
The weapon system is designed for precision, with the ability to focus laser power on small moving targets, according to MBDA and Rheinmetall.
The companies stated that the laser’s its advanced tracking and beam quality allow for the engagement of targets more effectively, while using lower energy, due to the high energy density achieved with the system.
The project remains tailored to the Bundeswehr’s technical requirements and performance expectations.
Most of the series production is planned to occur in Germany, which will result in additional training and job opportunities.
Rheinmetall Weapon and Ammunition Division head Roman Koehne said: “The laser weapon system will provide significantly greater protection for our soldiers deployed on naval vessels, especially against drones.”
