Germany invests in homegrown laser technology to strengthen naval security

German defence giants Rheinmetall and MBDA Germany have announced plans to establish a joint venture in early 2026 to develop and produce advanced naval laser weapon systems for the German Navy (Deutsche Marine), aiming to counter drones and other agile threats at short ranges.

The collaboration builds on a partnership dating back to 2019 and follows a successful year-long deployment of a naval laser demonstrator integrated onto a German naval vessel and tested under real-world operational conditions. The planned venture will initially focus on supplying operational laser systems to the Navy, complementing conventional guns and guided missiles, Interesting Engineering reports.

The laser system is designed to defeat small, fast-moving aerial targets at short and very short distances—a growing concern as militaries face an increasing number of unmanned aerial systems. Laser weapons provide high-precision targeting with minimal collateral damage, reducing reliance on conventional ammunition.

According to the companies, the demonstrator underwent extensive sea trials, including over 100 firing and tracking tests against a range of targets. These tests included “blue sky” engagements, where the laser tracks and engages targets without relying on background terrain to stabilize the beam. The system demonstrated the ability to track extremely small objects at long distances, including targets roughly the size of a one-euro coin, maintaining stable focus even under challenging conditions such as ship motion and atmospheric interference.

After the trials, the demonstrator was transferred to the Laser Competence Center of the German armed forces’ Military Technical Service for Weapons and Ammunition (WTD 91) in Meppen for further testing, including land-based trials focused on drone defence.

Roman Köhne, head of Rheinmetall’s Weapons and Munitions division, said the joint venture reflects the advantages of close industrial and technological cooperation within Germany. “Both companies focused on their respective strengths from the outset, allowing us to deliver a mature product to the Bundeswehr in a relatively short time,” Köhne said. He emphasized that a key goal of the partnership is to “nationalize” the technology, ensuring that development, production, and long-term support remain within Germany to safeguard jobs, expand domestic industrial capacity, and strengthen national security of supply during crises.

Thomas Gottschild, chief executive of MBDA Germany, added that the venture will set new standards for the development and production of military laser weapon systems designed and built in Germany. “By combining our complementary expertise, Rheinmetall and MBDA aim to offer the German Navy a technologically advanced, fully qualified laser weapon system ready for operational use,” he said. Gottschild noted that the system would provide an additional layer of drone defense as naval forces adapt to evolving maritime threats.

By Vafa Guliyeva