Germany’s Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment (BAAINBw) signed a contract on 9 July 2026 with ARGE HEL, a joint venture of Rheinmetall Waffe Munition and MBDA Deutschland, to develop a high-energy laser weapon for the German Navy. The order, valued in the mid three-digit million-euro range, covers full system integration from target detection to engagement, addressing counter-drone and close-range threat capabilities. Series production will occur primarily in Germany, with operational deployment targeted by 2029. The system complements existing guns and missiles, leveraging a demonstrator proven during year-long sea trials aboard frigate Sachsen. This sovereign initiative transitions the program from development to formal procurement, reinforcing national technological control over critical defense assets.