Rheinmetall and MBDA Deutschland are targeting the formation of a joint venture in early 2026 to advance the development of laser-based weapon systems.
The planned entity, to be registered as a private limited company in Germany, will initially prioritize naval laser weapons capable of defending German Navy vessels against drones and other close-range aerial threats.
Designed to complement conventional naval guns and missile systems, the laser weapon leverages a naval laser demonstrator jointly developed by the two firms, which has already completed a year of operational testing at sea.
Collaboration between Rheinmetall and MBDA Deutschland on naval laser technologies dates back to 2019. MBDA provides capabilities in target acquisition, tracking, and command-and-control integration, while Rheinmetall supplies the laser emitter, beam guidance and aiming systems, and shipboard integration.
The cooperation reached a major milestone in 2022, when a German Navy Sachsen-class frigate successfully conducted the first operational firing of a high-energy laser against drone targets in the Baltic Sea.
In 2024, both companies announced plans to develop a more affordable naval laser system as an alternative to costly ship-based air defense missiles.
Following the Bundeswehr’s takeover of the demonstrator in late 2025, further trials— including ground-based counter-drone testing—are planned to mature the system toward potential service entry around 2029.
