Rheinmetall Acquires Naval Vessels Lürssen (NVL)
On 14 September 2025, German defense firm Rheinmetall announced it had agreed to acquire Naval Vessels Lürssen (NVL) from the Lürssen Group. NVL is the military shipbuilding arm of the long-established Lürssen shipyard and operates four yards in northern Germany with roughly 2,100 employees. Under the deal, Rheinmetall will take over NVL and all its subsidiaries, with closing planned for early 2026 pending regulatory approval. Both sides agreed not to disclose the purchase price. Rheinmetall described the acquisition as a move to create a “naval powerhouse” and expand its portfolio into shipbuilding.
Rheinmetall is a major German defense technology group known for army hardware like tanks and ammunition. It also supplies naval components such as simulators, protection systems and sensors to many fleets. NVL, by contrast, is a specialist shipbuilder with around €1 billion in annual sales. The yard has built roughly 1,000 naval and coast guard vessels, including Germany’s F125-class frigates and corvettes for other countries. NVL was formerly known as Lürssen Defence and was spun off from Lürssen’s yacht business in 2021 to focus on military ships. NVL supports navies throughout their life cycle, helping keep the German Navy and allied fleets ready.
Rheinmetall says it can now offer complete naval systems from hulls to weapons. CEO Armin Papperger notes the firm will be a “relevant player on land, on water, in the air and in space,” becoming a cross-domain provider. By adding shipbuilding, Rheinmetall can integrate its missiles, gun systems and combat-management software into future vessels. The deal comes amid a surge in defense spending and naval procurement in Europe, as Germany and NATO allies boost budgets for modern warships. Rheinmetall aims to meet a “massive increase” in demand for high-performance sea-based solutions spanning platforms, sensors, electronics and effectors. Executives say the acquisition also consolidates Europe’s defense industry and strengthens Germany’s and NATO’s naval capabilities.
The deal has notable implications for the German shipbuilding industry and beyond. Integrating NVL into Rheinmetall’s portfolio adds one of Germany’s leading warship manufacturers to the domestic industry, potentially decreasing reliance on foreign shipyards. NVL’s four northern shipyards and skilled workforce complement Rheinmetall’s existing industrial base. Rheinmetall says it can leverage NVL’s heavy docks and facilities to ramp up production and avoid major new investments. Lürssen’s management praised Rheinmetall as a “trustworthy and strong partner” that can secure a successful future for NVL and its roughly 2,100 employees. This Rheinmetall–NVL deal effectively creates a single-source naval shipbuilder in Germany, with potential influence on international naval procurement.