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Trumpf and Rohde & Schwarz Partner to Build German Laser Drone-Defense System

Trumpf frames the move as a defensive, society-driven response to escalating drone risks.

Overview

  • The companies will combine Trumpf’s high-energy lasers with Rohde & Schwarz radar and electromagnetic sensing to create an integrated counter-drone system.
  • Development is slated to take about three years, and the partners say there are no customer orders yet.
  • The planned system is positioned for protection of airports and other civilian infrastructure, with potential deployment by the military.
  • Trumpf reiterates its policy that solutions must be purely defensive, not directed at humans, aligning with statements from CEO Nicola Leibinger-Kammüller and laser chief Hagen Zimer.
  • The announcement follows a weak 2024/25 for Trumpf with a net loss and planned job cuts, while Rohde & Schwarz remains a key supplier of military electronics used by the Bundeswehr.