Laser weapons could decide future wars in space. an Australian company is now offering the German Navy a drone defense system – and is even prepared to make a major concession. but while the company is already delivering, the federal government is still working on expensive in-house developments.
Andreas Schwer believes that future wars will be decided in space. Whoever has the ability to turn off the enemy’s reconnaissance and killer satellites in space with a laser beam within a very short time has won the conflict, says the head of the Australian high-tech company Electro Optic Systems (EOS).
This is true because the person hit can no longer see what is happening militarily on the ground. He’s basically blinded. The EOS company builds remote-controlled weapons, laser defense systems and space surveillance. It could become an crucial partner in Europe.
The Europeans have not yet had a joint initiative to acquire the know-how necessary for the approach described by Schwer. On the contrary: France is looking for its own way to create a satellite protective shield against attacks from space – in space, says an industry expert. The British too. Germany has now also “woken up”.
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But you obviously don’t want to work together, everyone develops something on their own. The rationale behind this expensive solo effort: Everyone calculates that today’s friends could be tomorrow’s enemies in two,three or four decades.And that’s why no one wants to share their knowledge with potential opponents. Its as crazy as it is rational at the same time.France, although short of money,
Laser Weapon System Growth in Baden-Württemberg
According to Rheinmetall, it tested possible uses for a future laser weapon system in six test campaigns. The company said on request that over 100 laser shots were fired against drones, among others.
Observers assume that the federal government has now paid a three-digit million sum for the development. A further approximately 390 million euros are to be awarded directly to Rheinmetall and its armaments partner MBDA as a development contract – and thus once again without a public tender.
The actions of the Federal Ministry of Defense and the Procurement Office are causing anger in parliamentary circles. The British unit of MBDA is reportedly selling a comparable, already finished laser for naval ships with an output of 60 kW to the British government for around 360 million euros.
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The Australians at EOS, in turn, offer their 100 kW laser. They would even be willing to increase the output to 120 kW. They promise twice the performance for half the price.
So far, the Ministry of Defense has not moved away from Rheinmetall and MBDA Germany (MBDA-D), it is said, even though they cannot deliver until 2029 at the earliest – assuming everything goes well in development. but when will everything go well?
Rheinmetall and MBDA-D are convinced that their tests have dem