Following the successful completion of a one-year trial phase at sea, Rheinmetall and MBDA Germany have transferred a laser demonstrator for the Navy to the Laser Competence Centre at the Technical Centre for Weapons and Ammunition (WTD 91) in Meppen for further testing of its drone defence capabilities.
The companies predict that an operational high-energy laser weapon system could be available to the German Navy as of 2029.
The containerised demonstrator has already been successfully tested several times over the course of a year under real operational conditions at sea on board the frigate SACHSEN.
Rheinmetall and MBDA have been working together on developing high-energy laser effectors since 2019. MBDA Germany is responsible for target detection and tracking, the control console and connecting the laser weapon demonstrator to the command-and-control system. Rheinmetall’s responsibilities include the aiming system, beam guidance and the demonstrator container, as well as the mechanical and electrical integration of the demonstrator on the deck of the SACHSEN and, ultimately, the high-energy laser source including its peripherals.
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