Rheinmetall and to Establish Joint Venture for Naval Laser Weapon Systems

Rheinmetall and MBDA have announced plans to establish a joint private limited company dedicated to naval laser weapon activities, formalising a cooperation that has been underway since 2019. The new entity is expected to be founded in the first quarter of 2026 and will focus on the development and delivery of high-performance laser weapon systems for naval applications.

The planned joint venture builds directly on the partners’ successful collaboration on a naval laser demonstrator, which has already completed extensive operational testing. The system is designed to counter drones and other agile aerial threats at short and very short ranges, addressing a growing capability gap in close-in naval air defence.

Initial customers are expected to include the German Navy, reflecting Berlin’s increasing emphasis on directed-energy solutions as part of its layered ship self-defence concepts.

Proven Technology Base

MBDA and Rheinmetall jointly developed a laser demonstrator that was integrated on a naval vessel and operated at sea for a full year under operational conditions. During this period, the system conducted more than 100 firing and tracking tests against a variety of targets, including challenging “Blue Sky” scenarios where the beam could not rely on terrain features for stabilisation.

Following the completion of sea trials, the demonstrator was transferred to the Laser Competence Centre of the Military Technical Service for Weapons and Ammunition, WTD 91, in Meppen. There, it has been returned to operation and is currently being used for further testing, including land-based drone defence trials.

Strategic Significance

The formation of the joint company signals a clear intent by MBDA and Rheinmetall to move beyond demonstrators toward serialisable laser weapon solutions. As navies face increasing threats from low-cost drones and fast, manoeuvring targets, directed-energy systems are increasingly viewed as a complementary capability to conventional missile- and gun-based defences, offering deep magazines and lower cost per engagement.