- Germany advances naval laser weapon toward operational deployment by 2029
- Future 100 kW laser aims to counter faster, larger aerial threats
- More than 1,000 laser shots validated performance during extended naval tests
Germany has confirmed plans to deploy a high-energy laser weapon aboard warships by 2029, primarily aimed at intercepting drones.
Defense contractors Rheinmetall and MBDA signed a contract worth several hundred million euros in June 2026 to build the complete system.
The program follows years of testing a demonstrator aboard the frigate Sachsen, which fired more than 1,000 shots during tests.
From demonstrator to deployable weapon
The demonstrator currently operates on approximately 20 kilowatts, enough to neutralize small drones and light surface targets near warships.
Future versions are expected to exceed 100 kilowatts, a substantial increase intended to counter larger and considerably faster aerial threats.
During testing, the demonstrator traveled approximately 28,000 nautical miles between the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean for more than a year.
Another test phase included more than 100 live firing events in maritime conditions, examining tracking accuracy, reaction speed and combat performance against fast-moving drones.
“The laser weapons system will provide our personnel deployed on warships with a significantly higher level of protection, especially in the fight against drones,” said Roman Koehne, head of Rheinmetall’s weapons and ammunition division.
Beyond countering drones, engineers hope the technology could eventually intercept guided missiles, rockets and even artillery shells fired from a considerable distance.
Company officials say the system also demonstrated the ability to engage targets located in open skies rather than solid terrain.
Similar systems are being pursued by British, French and Belgian forces – a broader push towards directed energy weapons across European navies in general.
The UK Royal Navy, for example, already plans to install its DragonFire laser weapon aboard a destroyer by 2027.
Similarly, Belgium committed €3.1 billion for layered air defenses, including Skyranger 30 systems, GM200 radars and 10 NASAMS batteries.
Costs, sovereignty and pending issues
The German program places heavy emphasis on domestic supply chains, and series production is expected to largely occur within Germany.
MBDA Deutschland CEO Thomas Gottschild described the containerized system as an affordable option for protecting ports and other secure facilities.
Neither company has revealed a final unit price, leaving open how affordable the gun will be during full production.
Scaling the laser from 20 kilowatts to over 100 kilowatts introduces significant thermal and power generation challenges aboard confined naval platforms.
However, officials believe the warships offer sufficient electrical power, cooling capacity, sensors and space needed for the demanding laser weapons systems.
Both companies describe the technological readiness of the system as very high, citing more than a year of continuous onboard testing in real-world conditions.
Procurement officials have not specified interim milestones, making it still difficult to assess whether the 2029 target remains realistic at this point.
More testing remains necessary before acquisition, but recent milestones suggest that European navies now view directed energy weapons as practical complements to existing missiles and weapons.
Via Defense News
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