Rheinmetall recently delivered the 300th MASS Multi Ammunition Softkill System via its Waffe Munition GmbH branch in Buck Fronau. The anniversary customer, the Finnish Navy, was also the system’s launch customer. Since its market launch in 2002, the maritime protection system is currently in service with 14 user states.
Rheinmetall’s Multi Ammunition Softkill System (MASS) family of ship protection systems is suitable for the Blue, Green and Brown Water Navy. It protects ships and boats from a wide range of threats – on the high seas as well as in coastal waters or on rivers. The automated decoy system offers protection against state-of-the-art, sensor-guided missiles in all relevant wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum. MASS can be installed on all types of ships. It can be integrated into existing command and weapon deployment systems or operated as a stand-alone system. As standard, MASS consists of one to six directable launchers, each of which can emit 32 so-called omni-trap effect charges. Rheinmetall has consistently expanded its MASS family. The latest versions include MASS_OCR with Offboard Corner Reflector and the stand-alone variant MASS_ISS (Integrated Sensor Suite) for units that do not have their own reconnaissance system against laser or radar threats, for example.
The MASS_OCR version is characterized by special deception and deflection capabilities against the latest radar threats. Two Offboard Corner Reflector (OCR) missiles can be used per launcher, which generate ship-like radar signatures. Their range can be automatically programmed between 35 and 850 meters depending on the situation, with a deployment time of over 60 seconds. Rheinmetall has developed MASS_ISS (Integrated Sensor Suite), a stand-alone system with an integrated sensor unit, especially for seagoing units without their own reconnaissance systems. Threats in the millimeter-wave radar range can be reliably detected and effectively countered with the REKa-50 (Rheinmetall ESM Ka-Band) sensor unit in the MASS_ISS network. As a systems supplier, Rheinmetall provides the MASS system, the sensor units and the ammunition from a single source. The number of launcher units can be scaled – it typically consists of one or two launchers, but more can also be integrated. In addition, there is the sensor system with radar and laser warning sensor, a tactical control unit and the power supply.
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