The German defense procurement agency has awarded MBDA Deutschland a contract to develop a demonstrator for an airborne laser weapon.
The project aims to assess the feasibility of an airborne laser weapon and lay the groundwork for a future operational capability in the German Air Force.
Under the contract, MBDA will procure key components for a laser pod designed for eventual flight operations. The project is also expected to leverage German supply chains and domestic systems expertise, supporting the country’s technological sovereignty in this strategic field.
“Among experts, the development of an airborne laser is considered a particularly demanding ‘supreme discipline’ of laser weapon technology, especially because of the extreme requirements in terms of size, weight, and resistance to flight conditions,” MBDA said.
The company has not disclosed the intended carrier aircraft, the laser’s power output, the contract value, or a timeline for flight testing.
Airborne lasers are primarily intended to counter drones and cruise missiles, while similar systems could protect ships, ground vehicles, troops, and critical infrastructure.
Laser Weapon Push
Laser technology has been a strategic focus of German research and development since 2019 and is designated a national key technology under the federal government’s SVI strategy and the German Ministry of Defence.
Separately, MBDA Deutschland and Rheinmetall Waffe Munition were awarded a contract to develop a high-energy laser weapon system for the German Navy.
Valued in the several-hundred-million-euro range, the contract covers a maritime laser weapon system encompassing the operational chain from reconnaissance and target tracking to engagement. Delivery is scheduled for 2029.
