According to “Welt am Sonntag,” the federal government intends to award a so-called direct contract for the development of the laser system without a public tender, even though competitors already have a more powerful system on the market.
Rheinmetall is expected to deliver three demonstration devices by the end of the decade. The costs are reportedly around 390 million euros. Neither the federal government nor Rheinmetall would comment specifically on the case: “A procurement procedure is currently underway for a laser weapon system intended for the Navy. Therefore, no further information can be provided on your questions at this time,” stated the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology, and In-Service Support in Koblenz.
However, critics from federal politics point out that more powerful systems are now available on the market, which have been offered to the federal government multiple times and are being installed on ships of European NATO partners. For example, from the Australian company Electro Optic Systems (EOS), which has subsidiaries in Europe, among other places. The contracts with the partners are structured such that the Federal Republic could seamlessly join in, it was reported.
The EOS laser system, with an output of 100 kilowatts and an effective range of over five kilometers, is not only more powerful; EOS is even prepared to increase the output to 120 kilowatts – double that of Rheinmetall – and offer the devices at half the price of the German company.
Sebastian Schäfer, the responsible budget rapporteur for the Greens in the Bundestag, criticized: “You can see it in the special fund [for the Bundeswehr]; the lion’s share of the money that didn’t go to the USA went to Rheinmetall.” It cannot be that Germany is operating hidden subsidies through such projects. “The unlimited financial resources in the procurement area naturally arouse a lot of desire in the industry,” said Schäfer. “This makes the strict adherence to open tender and competitive procedures all the more important.”
Laser Weapons Against Drones – Technology from Bavaria
Drones are playing an increasingly important role in the military. So far, however, the Bundeswehr has few means to defend against entire drone swarms. A Bavarian arms company has therefore been researching laser weapons for some time.
In science fiction films like “Star Wars,” they are ubiquitous: lightsabers and laser pistols. On Earth in the year 2025, however, laser-based weapon systems are still in the development stage.
This prompted Facebook user “FredF” to ask in a comment section: “Whatever happened to laser weapons? It’s gone very quiet about them lately. Does the arms industry not want them anymore because you can’t make money on ammunition and spare parts? Or do these systems not work as expected?”
Indeed, for example, the Bundeswehr does not yet have any laser-based weapon systems in operation, unlike in the movies.
Laser Container on the Frigate “Sachsen”
In recent years, there have already been some successful tests with lasers, for example as a defensive weapon against drones. MBDA Deutschland from Schrobenhausen, together with Rheinmetall, built a so-called demonstrator that is supposed to track and shoot down attacking drones even during zigzag flights.
According to an MBDA spokesperson, testing on the Bundeswehr frigate “Sachsen” was successful in key aspects. For instance, they managed to disrupt the control of approaching drones, causing them to crash. The challenge is that the system’s so-called trackers must follow the drone lightning-fast and steer the laser beam so that it hits drone sensors from several kilometers away that are only the size of a euro coin.
However, the system is anything but handy. It is the size of a container and has an enormous energy demand. Therefore, it is also intended to be used primarily on ships in the future. The manufacturers now want to develop an operational defensive weapon from the demonstrator and hope for a corresponding order from the Bundeswehr still during this legislative period.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Lasers as a Defensive Weapon
It’s not just German developers and the Bundeswehr who are pinning their hopes on laser systems, especially in the future fight against drones. Researchers and militaries in other NATO countries like the USA, as well as in Israel and Ukraine, but also in Russia and China, are working on such weapons. Specialist blogs have also repeatedly reported that lasers have already been used against drones, especially in Israel. Just a few days ago, the Israeli Ministry of Defense officially declared that it had completed development of a corresponding weapon called “Iron Beam” for combating drones.
Their decisive advantage: Compared to conventional air defense, they are very cheap. A “shot” costs only a few cents. And as long as there is enough electricity, there is no ammunition problem. Given increasingly cheaper drones, this is a significant argument for militaries. After all, hardly any army can afford to fight drones in the long term with high-tech missiles like the Patriot or modern air-to-air systems on board fighter jets. These systems sometimes cost over a million euros per missile.
The disadvantage of drone defense via laser: All systems to date are so large and heavy that they must either be mounted on ships, trucks, or tanks, or can only be used stationary.
Laser as a Mine Clearer
MBDA is building another, at least somewhat smaller, system on its own. Under the name MILOS-D, the Upper Bavarians have developed a laser with which infantry soldiers can destroy mines or cut through barbed wire from a safe distance. Essentially a welding tool with a range of dozens of meters. However, there are no lighting effects like with lightsabers or spaceship battles in Hollywood; only the targeted spot on the barbed wire begins to glow after a few seconds.
However, this system is also still so bulky that two to three soldiers are needed for transport. In cooperation with the Bundeswehr, they now want to work on reducing the weight while simultaneously getting higher performance from the batteries.
How Are Drones Used in War?
Drones are unmanned aerial vehicles used in modern warfare for both aerial surveillance and reconnaissance and for combat against enemy targets.
Drones have a long range, are easy to control, and are cost-effective compared to other military technology. Furthermore, they can be easily adapted to individual requirements through minor technical changes. Defending against drones is difficult due to their often small size, and they are frequently not detected by radar systems. Drones can be remote-controlled but can also operate semi-autonomously to autonomously. Using artificial intelligence, drones can, for example, select targets precisely themselves or analyze threats.
Surveillance drones equipped with video cameras help spy on enemy positions, protect one’s own troops, and optimally aim artillery at targets.
For combat purposes, drones are equipped with projectiles, e.g., for launching missiles or destroying enemy military equipment. Combat drones also include so-called kamikaze drones. These belong to the category of “loitering munition.” Unlike other drone types, these are not directly aimed at a target but circle an area after launch until a target is assigned by an operator on the ground or one is recognized and attacked autonomously. In the process, the drone destroys itself.
Info: BR24
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