- Germany advances a Naval laser weapon toward operational deployment by 2029
- Future 100kW laser aims to counter faster and larger aerial threats
- More than 1,000 laser shots validated performance during extended naval trials
Germany has confirmed plans to field a high-energy laser weapon aboard naval vessels by 2029, aimed primarily at intercepting drones.
Defense contractors Rheinmetall and MBDA signed a contract in June 2026 worth several hundred million euros 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 trials.
From demonstrator to deployable weapon
The demonstrator currently operates at roughly 20 kilowatts, sufficient for neutralizing small drones and light surface targets near naval vessels.
Future versions are expected to exceed 100 kilowatts, a substantial increase intended to counter larger and considerably faster aerial threats.
During trials, the demonstrator covered roughly 28,000 nautical miles between the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean over more than a year.
Another testing phase included over 100 live firing events under maritime conditions, examining tracking accuracy, reaction speed and engagement performance against fast-moving drones.
“The laser weapon system will provide our personnel deployed on naval vessels with a significantly higher level of protection, particularly when it comes to countering drones,” said Roman Koehne, head of Rheinmetall’s weapons and ammunition division.
Beyond countering drones, engineers hope the technology can eventually intercept guided missiles, rockets, and even artillery shells fired from considerable range.
Company officials say the system also demonstrated the ability to strike targets set against open sky rather than solid terrain.
The British, French and Belgian forces are pursuing similar systems — a broader push toward directed-energy weapons across European navies more generally.
The United Kingdom's Royal Navy, for instance, already plans to install its DragonFire laser weapon aboard a destroyer by 2027.
Similarly, Belgium committed €3.1 billion toward layered air defenses including Skyranger 30 systems, GM200 radars and 10 NASAMS batteries.
Costs, sovereignty, and unresolved questions
The German program places strong emphasis on domestic supply chains, with serial production expected largely to occur within Germany.
MBDA Deutschland's managing director, Thomas Gottschild, described the containerized system as an affordable option for guarding ports and other secure facilities.
Neither company has disclosed a final per-unit price, leaving open how affordable the weapon will prove across a full production run.
Scaling the laser from 20 kilowatts to more than 100 kilowatts introduces significant thermal and power-generation challenges aboard confined naval platforms.
However, officials believe naval vessels offer sufficient electrical power, cooling capacity, sensors and space needed for the demanding laser weapon systems.
Both companies describe the system's technology readiness as very high, citing more than a year of continuous shipboard testing under real conditions.
Procurement officials have not specified interim milestones, making it still difficult to assess whether the 2029 goal remains realistic at this point.
Further trials remain necessary before procurement, but recent milestones suggest European navies now view directed-energy weapons as practical complements to existing missiles and guns.
Via Defense News
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