Following the successful completion of a one-year trial phase at sea, defense companies Rheinmetall and MBDA have transferred a laser demonstrator for the German Navy to the Laser Competence Centre at the Technical Centre for Weapons and Ammunition (WTD 91) for further testing. Based on this, an operational laser weapon system could be available to the German Navy as of 2029, providing a power and cost-effective addition to conventional guided missiles, Rheinmetall said. The containerized 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, proving the system’s robustness and performance. With the support of WTD 91 in Meppen, the laser container has now been put into operation for further land-based drone defense testing, the company said. The laser weapon system is able to precisely and effectively neutralize drones and other small, fast-moving targets. The system is complementary to cannons and guided missiles, particularly for the defense against drones and drone swarms, as well as for attacking speedboats, and, if necessary, guided missiles in the closer and immediate vicinity. In the future, it could also be equipped with greater capabilities and be used to destroy supersonic guided missiles and rockets, as well as mortar and artillery shells. The work on the system is divided nearly equally between the two companies. MBDA 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 frigate SACHSEN, and the high-energy laser source including its peripherals.