German Navy system house to be established: Rheinmetall takes over NVL

With this significant strategic acquisition, Rheinmetall will be creating a German systems house for the development and manufacture of state-of-the-art navy and coastguard vessels, as well as maritime autonomous surface systems. Rheinmetall will thus be further expanding its portfolio within the maritime domain and is hence consolidating its position as a comprehensive supplier of defence technology in Germany and Europe.

Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG: “We are happy about the successful finalisation of the transaction”. Already at the announcement of the plans, he stated the following: “In future, Rheinmetall will be a relevant player on land, on water, in the air and in space and is thus developing into a cross-domain system house. In combining the expertise of Rheinmetall and NVL, we will be creating a powerful full-range supplier for state-of-the-art surface vessels. This will generate mutual growth and thus secure a strong position for our corporation’s position in the maritime sphere. At the same time, we are making a substantial contribution to empower the naval defence capabilities of Germany and its NATO allies”.

The current conflict situation reveals that military enforcement capabilities are also becoming increasingly important in the naval sector. Rheinmetall intends to meet the massive increase in demand from naval forces and rising procurement budgets with high-performance system solutions which feature a highly modern digital infrastructure and cover the entire spectrum – from platforms and electronics to sensors and effectors.

For further information, see press release dated September 15, 2025: Rheinmetall reaches agreement with Lürssen on acquisition of NVL