Germany: New drone-killing laser weapon planned by Rheinmetall, MBDA

German defense firms Rheinmetall and MBDA Germany plan to form a joint venture by early 2026 to develop and produce naval laser weapon systems for the German Navy. This initiative builds on their cooperation since 2019 and successful testing of a naval laser demonstrator integrated onto a German warship, which operated under real-world conditions for a year. The laser weapon is designed to counter small, fast-moving aerial threats such as drones at short and very short ranges, providing high-precision targeting with minimal collateral damage and reducing reliance on conventional ammunition. The demonstrator underwent extensive sea trials, including over 100 firing and tracking tests, demonstrating the ability to track and engage extremely small targets—comparable in size to a one-euro coin—at long distances and under challenging conditions like ship motion and atmospheric interference. After these trials, the system was transferred to the German armed forces’ Military Technical Service for further land-based testing focused on drone defense. The joint venture aims to nationalize the technology, ensuring