German naval laser weapon development takes shape

German defence procurement agency BAAINBw has awarded the ARGE consortium, comprising MBDA Deutschland and Rheinmetall Waffe Munition, a contract to build, integrate and support testing of a naval laser weapon demonstrator.

‘The order value is in the low double-digit million euro range,’ Rheinmetall announced on 28 January. ‘Work will be shared out on a roughly equal basis.’

The demonstrator is to be made, tested and integrated by the end of the 2021. Trials aboard the German Navy frigate Sachsen are planned for 2022.

Both companies announced in 2019 that they were collaborating to develop a laser demonstrator for Braunschweig-class corvettes (pictured).

For the new project, MBDA Deutschland will be responsible for the operator console as well as tracking and linking the laser weapon demonstrator to the C2 system.

Rheinmetall is in charge of the laser weapon station, the beam guiding system, cooling, and integration of the laser weapon system into the project container of the laser source demonstrator.

‘The contract is an important step on the path to an operational high-energy laser system,’ said Doris Laarmann, head of laser business development at MBDA Deutschland. ‘Once it’s installed, the demonstrator will also be used to test important aspects such as the interaction and function of the sensor suite, combat management system and effector as well as rules of engagement.’

Alexander Graf, head of the laser weapons programme at Rheinmetall Waffe Munition, and Dr Markus Jung, head of laser development at the company, said the latest project ‘marks a systematic extension of the functional prototype laser weapon successfully tested in recent years’.

As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.