Rheinmetall displayed its latest high energy laser (HEL) configuration at DSEI 2015, with five 20 kW-class laser beam forming units (BFU) fitted to an MLG27 light naval gun mount.
Dr Markus Jung, Rheinmetall's vice-president for directed energy, told IHS Jane's that the system is a Technology Readiness Level 7 demonstrator and confirmed that the company is conducting a programme of over-water firing trials. He said targets to date have mostly comprised small surface craft, but unmanned aerial vehicles were also anticipated to be within the target set.
The BFUs are essentially the same systems as seen previously fitted to a Skyshield 35 mm air defence gun mount, a Boxer armoured vehicle, an ISO container, and other platforms, albeit contained within marinised protective housings. The laser generators and power units were not on display as they would be installed below decks on a naval platform.
Rheinmetall's HEL project is largely being internally funded, but with some direct investment from the German government. Until recently, the company's demonstrations had mostly centred on land-based systems for air defence, counter-rockets, artillery and mortar, and some anti-materiel roles, but Dr Jung said that "the customer is looking more at naval applications, so we're focusing on that".
However, he added that Rheinmetall's concept envisioned a suite of HEL weapons for a range of land, naval, and potentially air applications, which would be comprised of 80-90% common components and could, therefore, be held in a central store and swapped between users as required.