Rheinmetall has reached an agreement with the Lürssen Group on the key terms for acquiring Naval Vessels Lürssen (NVL B.V. & Co. KG), the Bremen-based military shipbuilding unit of the group, along with its subsidiaries. The deal, which remains subject to approval by competition authorities, is expected to close in early 2026. Financial details were not disclosed.
The acquisition marks Rheinmetall’s formal entry into naval shipbuilding, expanding its activities beyond its established presence in land, air, and space domains.
Statements from the Companies
Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG, said:
“In future, we will be a relevant player on land, on water, in the air and in space. Rheinmetall is thus developing into a cross-domain system house.”
He added: “With the newly agreed acquisition, we are taking a decisive step forward in consolidating the defence industry in Germany and Europe. Combined with Rheinmetall’s expertise, we are creating a vital German powerhouse for state-of-the-art vessels. The combined capabilities of Rheinmetall and NVL will generate mutual growth and thus strengthen our corporation’s position in the naval sphere. At the same time, we are making a substantial contribution to strengthening the naval defence capabilities of Germany and its NATO allies.”
Friedrich Lürßen, Managing Partner of Lürssen Maritime Beteiligungen GmbH & Co. KG, commented:
“We are delighted to have found a trustworthy and strong partner in Rheinmetall, which can secure a successful future for NVL and its employees.”
NVL
NVL, formerly Lürssen Defence, was separated from the group’s yacht division in 2021. The company operates four shipyards in northern Germany—Peene-Werft in Wolgast, Blohm+Voss and Norderwerft in Hamburg, and Neue Jadewerft in Wilhelmshaven—as well as international sites. NVL employs around 2,100 people and generated approximately €1 billion in sales in 2024.
Since its founding about 150 years ago, NVL has delivered around 1,000 vessels to more than 50 navies and coast guards. The company is active in new ship construction as well as maintenance and repair, and has been engaged in the development of autonomous surface systems.
Rheinmetall’s Naval Ambitions
Rheinmetall already supplies naval systems such as protection solutions, simulation technologies, sensors, and selected weapons. Following the acquisition, the group plans to offer integrated solutions for naval programs, including ship platforms, missile systems, naval guns, sensors, and electronics.
“This acquisition will not only make us a manufacturer of floating platforms. As an integrated naval powerhouse, we want to offer complete system solutions,” Papperger said. “In future programmes, we will provide our customers with all high-quality components from our partner network, delivered as an integrated solution from a single source: naval missiles and launchers, main and secondary guns for the navy, missile defence, sensors and other electronics. For combat management systems, we want to enable the integration and Germanisation of existing solutions from our partner network.”
The company also expects synergies between NVL’s shipyards and Rheinmetall’s Vehicle Systems division, which has facilities in Kiel and Flensburg. NVL’s infrastructure and expertise will support Rheinmetall’s industrial base in northern Germany while reducing the need for new infrastructure investments.