Login
iscover
German defence manufacturer Rheinmetall and German missile systems company MBDA Deutschland have committed to further the development of laser weaponry.
To continue reading the rest of this article, please log in.
Create free account to get unlimited news articles and more!
Both companies announced their aim to bring a joint maritime product to the market within the next five to six years, in a bid to open new possibilities in relation to drone defence on shipping.
The announcement follows the integration of a laser weapon demonstrator from Rheinmetall and MBDA Germany onto the German Navy’s frigate 124 Sachsen from June 2022 to September 2023. During the on-board trial, the demonstrator reportedly made more than 100 test shots.
“Both companies are convinced that their complementary skills in the field of laser weapon technology will enable them to successfully develop a military laser weapon system. The companies have now concluded a corresponding cooperation agreement,” according to a corporate statement from Rheinmetall.
The company also recently displayed a number of combat, combat logistics and dismounted combat equipment at the Land Forces 2024 expo held in the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre earlier this month.
The Rheinmetall Defence Australia (RDA) display included the in-service Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicle (CRV) equipped with a reconnaissance mission module, an HX45 10x10 heavy recovery vehicle, models of the Oerlikon Revolver Gun short-range air defence system component and Oerlikon Skyranger 30 air defence.
Nathan Poyner, managing director, Rheinmetall Defence Australia, said this year’s display was a digital capability showcase that included RDA’s Combat Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Subsystem (CISRS) software.
“CISRS implements the digital backbone of the Boxer CRV fleet and follows a modular and open systems design pattern. CISRS currently hosts richly integrated software sourced from across defence industry, other Land programs.
“Rheinmetall’s Land Forces display establishes our knowledge as a digitisation systems integrator through the dismounted and mounted Battle Management System (BMS) software to both Integrated Soldier Systems and the complex vehicle system of the Boxer CRV.
“This provides the user a seamless common operating picture through mounted and dismounted forces with the crew terminal graphical user interface, a software development kit adaptable for any vehicle platform.
“Communicating with the Boxer CRV via a simulated tactical communications network, hosting Android Tactical Assault Kit (ATAK) BMS, is an Integrated Soldier System end user device (tactical smart phone) hosting the Team Awareness Kit for Android (also known as CivTAK) BMS.
“Our experience in developing both Soldier Systems and Complex Vehicle Systems architectures enables Rheinmetall to be the digitisation provider of choice for the German Army and Hungarian Defence Force.
“Under the L400-2 program, the CISRS software continues to be developed to expand its C4 capabilities to support a range of additional functions,” Poyner said.
