German shipyard Meyer Werft in Papenburg, rescued by the federal government and the state of Lower Saxony, is exploring the possibility of expansion in the defense industry. In an interview with the Handelsblatt, Ralf Schmitz, the company’s CEO and savior, stated that they are currently analyzing, in collaboration with a strategic advisor, the potential role Meyer could play in the military sector, also referred to as “grey ware”.
The shipyard, whose core business is building cruise ships, has already been constructing marine supply vessels in partnership with the Lürssen shipyard. If they were to focus primarily on the defense sector, Schmitz suggests that they could potentially build four to five frigates in series, a capability that no other German company can match. A key advantage, according to Schmitz, is the covered docks, which cannot be detected by enemy drones or satellites.
However, the company currently lacks expertise in defense technology, such as radar and weapon systems. As a result, Schmitz notes that they would need to form a partnership or acquire the necessary technology, a move that would likely be challenging due to the competitive market and established players.