More impact, more vision: The German Navy receives a new light naval gun

From the revolver cannon to the fragmentation cloud - a quantum leap in close-range defence

Change of strategy in 30mm calibre

With the tender launched in June 2025 for the "cross-sectional successor solution for light naval guns" (qNFMLG), the German Navy is initiating a significant change. The plan is to procure up to 175 new 30mm weapon systems including accessories and training services - starting in October 2026 and running until 2041.

The focus is on the ability to defend against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The tender calls for systems that can fire and programme airburst munitions (ABM) - i.e. fragmentation charges that explode in flight and thus also effectively engage small, agile targets.

The other central requirement is: TRL 9. Only systems that have already proven their operational capability on warships will be considered.

Why Airburst?

Conventional direct fire with kinetic ammunition is increasingly ineffective against drones - their low signature and high agility make them difficult to hit. Airburst ammunition, on the other hand, creates a "cone-shaped cloud" of sub-projectiles in the target area. The chance of hitting a target thus increases dramatically - and the protection for ships becomes more robust.

The navy opted for Rheinmetall's modernised MLG27-4.0 for the F126 frigates back in 2022 - albeit without ABM capability. The need for a genuine anti-drone solution therefore remains.

Broad fleet scaffolding planned

Of the planned systems, 75 are to be permanently commissioned and a further 100 are to be provided as options. The new weapons platform is to be integrated on new units such as the F127, the fleet service boats of the 424 class, the MUsE, but also on existing platforms (e.g. supply vessels, corvettes).

Remarkably, the new fleet service boats, originally planned to be unarmed, are also to be equipped with the new system - a clear signal of the growing need for self-protection, even among non-combatant units.

Standardisation with vision

The planned equipment means logistical relief, simplifies maintenance and enables uniform training. qNFMLG is not only a response to technological threats - but also a step towards fleet standardisation, which increases efficiency and combat value in the long term.

🔍 TRL 9 - technological maturity without compromise

The Technology Readiness Level (TRL) scale was developed by NASA and adopted internationally. TRL 9 means: "System is fully developed, validated, tested under operating conditions and ready for use."

For the tender, this means that only systems with proven naval capability are considered - no prototypes, no laboratory concepts.

Comparison: Who offers what?

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🔗 Background information

• MARLIN 30 from Leonardo (PDF)
• BAE Systems 30mm MGS
• Rheinmetall Sea Snake 30

Paradigm shift in close-range defence

The tender for a new 30x173mm naval light gun marks an important step in the modernisation of the German Navy's short-range defence. The focus is on the ability to effectively defend against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other asymmetric threats - a capability area that is becoming increasingly relevant in terms of security policy. The required support for airburst munitions and the requirement for market-available, operationally proven systems at TRL-9 level emphasise the need for a robust solution that can be deployed immediately.

This modernisation step is accompanied by a fundamental change in capability. The tried-and-tested 27mm MLG 27 is still in service on numerous ships and is already contractually available in the modernised MLG27-4.0 variant for the F126. However, this version lacks the key capability of the new generation: programmable defence against drones with airburst ammunition. The switch to the 30x173mm calibre with corresponding ABM capability is a direct response to the findings from current conflicts in which UAVs have become a real risk for naval units.

With the planned procurement of up to 175 systems by 2041, the aim is to modernise the fleet comprehensively in the long term. The new weapon platform will not only be deployed on future units such as the F127 frigates, the MUsE and the Class 424 fleet service boats, but will also replace the existing 27mm systems on other platforms in the future. This provides an opportunity for the overdue standardisation of short-range defence - with advantages for logistics, maintenance and training. Future deployment on autonomous surface units and new operational boats also appears conceivable.

One notable detail of the tender is the planned arming of the Class 424 fleet service boats. These units, originally designed as unarmed, are also to be equipped with the new system in future. This reflects the growing realisation that even non-combatant, highly sensitive reconnaissance platforms must have credible self-protection capabilities in an increasingly hybrid threat environment.

The qNFMLG initiative is therefore more than just a technical procurement programme. It represents a reorientation of short-range defence in the navy motivated by security policy. The decision in favour of airburst-capable systems is not a technological gimmick, but a logical consequence of the operational requirements of the present and the foreseeable threat situation of tomorrow.

The future of close-range defence seems to be beginning.