Rheinmetall announced on September 15, 2025, its plan to acquire Naval Vessels Lürssen (NVL), taking a decisive step to integrate naval shipbuilding into its portfolio. The deal, still subject to regulatory approval, is expected to close in early 2026 and signals Rheinmetall’s ambition to operate across land, air, sea, and even space domains. The move comes amid rising global tensions and a surge in demand for advanced naval capabilities.
NVL, the naval division of the Lürssen Group, brings over 150 years of expertise and a legacy of delivering roughly 1,000 ships to more than 50 navies and coast guards worldwide. With shipyards in Hamburg, Wilhelmshaven, Wolgast, and Peene, NVL is a key player in building, maintaining, and modernising naval fleets. Its work on autonomous surface systems presents strong potential for collaboration with Rheinmetall’s existing technology base.
The acquisition represents a major step in consolidating the European defence industry. Similar to the creation of Airbus in the aerospace sector, Rheinmetall’s integration of NVL aims to achieve economies of scale, safeguard technological sovereignty, and streamline naval production. This could position Germany as a provider of complete system solutions, from naval guns and missiles to combat management systems, supporting NATO’s maritime posture.
CEO Armin Papperger stressed that Rheinmetall’s objective is to become a “cross-domain system house,” offering integrated capabilities for land, sea, air, and space. Strengthening Germany’s naval production capacity not only reinforces NATO deterrence but also secures Europe’s defence industrial base at a time when autonomy and supply chain resilience are increasingly critical.
With roughly 2,100 employees and €1 billion in annual revenues, NVL provides Rheinmetall with a robust foundation for its naval ambitions. The acquisition enables Rheinmetall to transition from a platform supplier to a provider of comprehensive, future-ready naval solutions, combining land, air defence, and maritime capabilities under one roof.
