Rheinmetall has secured a contract valued at several hundred million euros to supply laser-light modules for the German Armed Forces as part of the introduction of a new standard-issue assault rifle.
The award follows budgetary approval by the German Parliament, activating the first binding order under a framework agreement signed in June 2021. Under the contract, Rheinmetall will deliver its LLM-VarioRay systems over a seven-year period, with provisions for additional quantities during the same timeframe.
Manufacturing will be carried out by Rheinmetall Soldier Electronics at its Stockach facility near Lake Constance. The company described the order as the largest in the subsidiary’s history, offering long-term production stability as Germany advances its infantry modernization program.
Designed for infantry and dismounted troops, the LLM-VarioRay supports target detection, identification, and marking. The compact module integrates visible and infrared functions, enabling effective use in daylight, low-light, and night operations.
Weighing approximately 250 grams including the mount, the system attaches to standard NATO accessory rails and is operated via a remote trigger cable. It combines a white-light LED, visible red laser, infrared laser, and adjustable infrared illuminator, allowing rapid mode changes to match mission demands.
The LLM-VarioRay is also part of Germany’s Future Soldier – Extended System, aimed at digitally linking individual soldiers with sensors, communications, and command networks. Variants of the system are already fielded by other European forces, including the British Army, where it is known as the Laser-Light-Module MK3, and the Swiss Army, which operates it as the Laser-Light-Module 19.
