Image source: topwar.ru
German naval forces were first used by the demonstrator laser weapon to defeat unmanned aerial vehicles. Frigate Sachsen attacked unmanned aircraft on short-and very short distance in the Baltic sea, in the area of the polygon Putlos.
The laser weapon system for the Navy will be particularly useful in the context of the protection of ships from drones and swarms of drones. They will also be able to strike the attacking boats at close range. But the system can also be used to defeat guided missiles.
Laser demonstrator works based on the technology of spectral connection, which German defense company Rheinmetall explores for many years. Main performance data of the demonstrator include a scalable output power up to 20 kW with a high focus of the beam that will allow you to hit a wide variety of air and other purposes.
Laser testing began in November 2021. Then integration group ARGE completed his successful factory acceptance tests Rheinmetall in Unterluss. Then the laser was mounted on Board the frigate Sachsen in Kiel.
In July 2022, the first tests of the new weapon was held in eckernförde Bay, not far from the Technical center of the Bundeswehr in the ships and naval weapons, Maritime technology and research in Surendorf.
During the test, the reviewer from the Navy command assessed the capabilities of various sensors, including electro-optical sensors kit ARGE and radar.
Also, the command to check the quality of interaction between the components and procedures throughout the operational sequence of the capture targets to defeat. Testing included a few very realistic scenarios of interaction. Planning testing and the provision of various types of targets on land, at sea or from the air was carried out and organized by the Federal office of Bundeswehr equipment, information technology and support service (BAAINBw).
The test was attended by the head of the project a sea of demonstrators in MBDA Deutschland Daniel Gruber and Dr. Markus Jung, responsible for the development of laser weapons in Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH. They could also draw some conclusions about the test armed with a new level.
- said then the publication of Daniel Gruber.
Image source: topwar.ru
How to write Naval News, fire fighting ship of the German Navy became a special event for the German Navy. The crew was able to prove the possibility of laser in full, allowing you to build future plans for its use in a combat situation.
Tested and further make it possible to use laser weapons of the German armed forces – not only the naval forces and ground troops. It is planned to test until 2023, the German military will experiment with different scenarios.
