BERLIN (dpa-AFX) – In the Bundestag’s Budget Committee there are concerns about the planned award of a contract for the development of a laser weapon. A corresponding 25 million euro proposal from the Federal Ministry of Finance for the award to the arms companies Rheinmetall and MBDA was stopped by the budget holders, reported the portal “The Pioneer”. The committee confirmed to the German Press Agency that the MPs want a more comprehensive market review.
The estimated costs of the project were also pointed out. The Netherlands purchased a demonstrator with 100 kilowatts of power for 190 million euros. Germany wanted to develop a demonstrator with 60 kilowatts of power for 462 million euros, the dpa was told.
Green budget politician Sebastian Schäfer told “The Pioneer”: “We have information that other companies may be able to provide more services for less money.” He also expressed fundamental criticism. There are many armaments projects about which big question marks could be raised. “The industry happily distributes the profits to each other and the taxpayers of the future can then pay for it.”
Laser weapons are particularly suitable for defending against drones. In reality, however, they are very far removed from examples from science fiction films such as “Star Wars”.
Rheinmetall and MBDA Germany are working together to make progress in their laser weapons business. The companies have been cooperating since 2019, and a demonstrator – a laser weapon in the testing stage – was developed together. From 2029 onwards, the product should be ready for the market and therefore ready for regular use./cn/DP/jha