German Navy Triumphs in Revolutionary Laser Weapon Sea Trials

Following the incorporation of the laser weapon prototype (LWP) aboard the German frigate “SACHSEN” in June 2022, the assessments of the LWP at sea have been successfully concluded. The entity responsible for development and crafting, along with the support during the evaluations organized by the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw), is the High-Energy Laser Naval Demonstrator Working Group, or ARGE, which includes MBDA Deutschland GmbH and Rheinmetall.

Throughout the evaluations, which consisted of six extensive campaigns spanning nearly a year, the combat efficiency of the laser weapon prototype, or LWP, has been validated in progressively intricate scenarios under authentic operating conditions against various target types. This encompassed all facets from detection and tracking (including highly maneuverable targets); the interaction of sensors, command and weapon engagement systems, and effectors; potential rules of engagement; and importantly, the successful engagement of targets with a high-energy laser beam.

The LWP has executed over a hundred test firings aboard the Sachsen, demonstrating that a laser can effectively engage targets in a maritime environment. At the conclusion of the assessments, the capabilities of the LWP were convincingly exhibited during two VIP days in front of senior representatives from the Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw), the German Navy and Army, as well as the Bundeswehr Office for Defence Planning (PlgABw), which included tasks such as neutralizing a drone. Furthermore, delegates from the British, Dutch, and Norwegian Navies attended the demonstration. The substantial success of the test campaign was a result of exceptional collaboration between BAAINBw including its subordinate units, the German Navy, and notably the crew of the frigate “SACHSEN” and the ARGE.

After nearly a year of assessments, BAAINBw and the defense sector have acquired valuable insights into the operational potentials, performance capabilities, and developmental prospects of high-energy laser effectors. The demonstrator is presently undergoing an in-depth review, after which it will be relocated to the Bundeswehr Technical Centre 91 in Meppen. The test outcomes and subsequent evaluations will be utilized to mitigate risks in a potential next phase, namely, the evolution of an operational laser weapon system.

The foundations for the advancement of a premier laser weapon have fundamentally been established. Both firms have initiated internal preparations for the development stage within their designated areas of responsibility.
In addition to conventional weapon systems and guided missiles, an operational laser weapon system is particularly well-suited to neutralize threats from drones, drone swarms, speedboats, and potentially missiles at close to very close ranges. Looking ahead, it could also receive enhancements for the destruction of supersonic missiles, rockets, as well as mortar and artillery rounds.