German Navy laser weapon system contract with MBDA and Rheinmetall

Germany’s Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and Use of the Bundeswehr (BAAINBw) has signed a contract with the joint venture of MBDA Deutschland GmbH and Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH to develop a high‑energy laser weapon system for the Deutsche Marine. The contract, valued at several hundred million euros, calls for a containerised system that can detect, track and engage air, sea and land targets, with an operational target date of 2029. A demonstrator mounted on the frigate Sachsen has already completed more than a year of testing, covering 28,000 nautical miles in the North Sea, Baltic and Mediterranean and firing over 1,000 successful shots. The system is designed to counter drones, missile threats and fast surface craft while offering low cost‑per‑shot and reduced logistical burden. Production will largely take place in Germany, creating new training opportunities and jobs and emphasizing domestic supply chains for strategic sovereignty. On the same day, the U.S. Department of the Army announced separate laser‑weapon contracts, underscoring a broader move by NATO allies toward directed‑energy defenses.