DÜSSELDORF, Germany – Defense companies Rheinmetall and MBDA Germany announced on January 5, 2026, their plan to establish a joint venture dedicated to naval laser weapon systems.
The new company is expected to be formed in the first quarter of 2026 to develop and produce high-performance laser weapons for the German Navy.
What is new?
Rheinmetall and MBDA Germany will create a joint venture, legally structured as a GmbH (a private limited company under German law), to consolidate their naval laser activities. This move formalizes a partnership that has been in place since 2019. The new entity will be tasked with developing, producing, and providing innovative laser weapon systems, with an initial focus on equipping naval vessels.
Background and Testing
The joint venture builds upon the successful development and testing of a laser weapon demonstrator. The system was previously integrated onto a naval vessel and underwent a year of testing under operational conditions at sea.
During this trial period, it conducted more than 100 firing and tracking tests against a variety of targets.
Following the sea trials, the demonstrator was transferred to the German military’s Technical Service for Weapons and Ammunition (WTD 91) in Meppen. It has since been taken back into operation for further land-based testing, including for drone defense applications.
System Capabilities
The laser weapon system is designed to provide the German Navy with a new capability to complement its existing guns and guided missiles. It is specifically engineered to be effective in countering drones and other highly agile targets at short and very short ranges.
The system has demonstrated its ability to track a target the size of a one-euro coin at a great distance with high stability. This precision allows it to concentrate the laser’s energy on the target, preventing overshoot and ensuring maximum safety with minimal collateral damage, even in adverse environmental conditions.
Strategic Importance
Company officials highlighted the strategic goals of the partnership. “This step demonstrates the potential of determined industrial and technological cooperation in Germany in order to produce cutting-edge technology,” said Roman Köhne, Head of Rheinmetall’s Weapons and Munitions division.
He emphasized that nationalizing the technology was a primary objective, aiming to “maintain, create and expand jobs in Germany in the long term, as well as ensuring national sovereignty and security of supply in times of crisis”.
Thomas Gottschild, CEO of MBDA Germany, stated, “With this GmbH, we are setting new standards in the development and production of state-of-the-art military laser weapon systems, designed and made in Germany.” He noted the venture would swiftly bring a tested maritime product to market and provide the German military with additional drone defense capabilities.
About this company
Rheinmetall is a leading international defence system house and a driver of forward-looking innovations in civilian markets. Through its technologies, products and systems, the corporation creates the indispensable foundation for peace, freedom and sustainable development, namely security. With over 40,000 employees at more than 170 locations worldwide, the DAX-listed corporation generated sales of approximately €9.8 billion in the fiscal year of 2024.
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