Rheinmetall snaps up Lürssen: billion-dollar deal for marine horizons!

Rheinmetall snaps up Lürssen: billion-dollar deal for marine horizons!

On Sunday evening, September 15, 2025, Rheinmetall announced the takeover of the military division NVL from the Lürssen Group. It is a deal worth billions that is intended to drive Rheinmetall's expansion in the marine sector. Even if the exact purchase price has not been published, it is generally known that a considerable sum is involved. However, this transaction still requires approval from the relevant antitrust authorities, which could postpone the completion of the takeover to early 2026. Nau.ch reports that Rheinmetall has not yet built its own ships, but offers naval products such as ship guns and laser modules.

Since the start of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, Rheinmetall's stock price has increased twenty-fold, making the company one of the most important arms suppliers to Ukraine. Many of these activities are financed by the German federal government, among others. The acquisition of NVL represents a strategic step to consolidate its position in the growing market for military maritime vehicles.

About NVL and its locations

NVL, the military division of the Lürssen Group, has been operating as an independent entity since October 2021 and specializes in the design and manufacture of naval and government vessels. The company operates four shipyards in Germany, including the Peene shipyard in Wolgast as well as parts of Blohm+Voss and Norderwerft in Hamburg and the Neue Jade shipyard in Wilhelmshaven. NVL also has international locations in Bulgaria, Croatia, Egypt and Brunei and employs around 2,100 people worldwide. In the 2024 financial year, NVL achieved sales of around one billion euros.

However, the Lürssen Group is not limited to the military sector; it also has a yachting division that remains active. Such strategic moves are classic examples of how companies must respond to different market conditions and demands.

Future and prospects

Rheinmetall brings an impressive corporate structure to this takeover, with around 40,000 employees working at a total of 174 locations. With sales of 9.8 billion euros last year, Rheinmetall is positioning itself as a major player in the defense and marine industries. By taking over the NVL division, Rheinmetall not only expands its product portfolio, but also strengthens its market position in an area that has grown significantly in recent years.

The next steps now depend crucially on approval from the antitrust authorities. It remains to be seen how the integration processes between Rheinmetall and NVL will develop and what innovative products will emerge from this merger. Spiegel.de has provided the details of this extensive deal.