(See) Die deutsche Marine

[Schneemann]

MBDA, Rheinmetall JV to develop German naval laser

Rheinmetall and MBDA Deutschland on 5 January announced plans to establish a joint venture (JV) for their naval laser activities in the first quarter of 2026. Based on their existing co-operation since 2019 and the successful implementation of a Laser Weapons Demonstrator (LWD), the JV is intended to further develop laser weapon systems, initially for the German Navy.

What Rheinmetall described in its press release on 5 January as an “operational laser weapon system” for the German Navy, it added, was “particularly effective in counter-striking drones [unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)] and other highly agile targets at short and very-short ranges”. The LWD went through a successful one-year trial period at sea with field tests completed in September 2023. During the trial period more than 100 firing and tracking tests were conducted against various targets, including shooting at with a so-called ‘blue sky' background or the open sky, without using landscape behind to capture the beam. This was seen as a significant milestone in accuracy and the safety of other objects in the sky that are not the intended target.

The LWD was then transferred to the Bundeswehr's Laser Competence Centre of the Technical Centre for Weapons and Ammunition (Wehrtechnische Dienststelle 91: WTD 91) in Meppen for further testing. It has been taken back into operation and is also being used for further land-based drone defence testing, Rheinmetall said. [...]

https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/def...aval-laser

Schneemann