Multi Ammunition Softkill System Explained

Multi Ammunition Softkill System (MASS) is a naval self-defence system produced by Rheinmetall of Germany. It is connected to the ship's sensors and protects ships from attacks by advanced sensor-guided missiles by launching decoys that operate in all relevant wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum: ultraviolet, electro-optical, laser, infrared and radar. MASS can either be integrated with the command and control system of a warship, or can operate autonomously.

Rheinmetall Defence stated that "MASS has attracted orders from 9 nations, for 130 launchers, on 15 different classes of naval vessels" as of 31 March 2009. As of 3 March 2011, this has been expanded to a total order of at least 172 units.^[1] Roughly one year later, on 17 April 2012, the total was 186 launchers for 22 different classes of vessels in 11 different nations.

Customers

• : s, s, s, s, s and the future F126 frigates
• : s
• : s
• : s, s, s, s
• : s, as part of the ANZAC modernization programme.^[2]
• : s
• : s
• : s, s, and s
• : s, s, s
• : ^[3]
• : LST-II-class landing ships^[4]
• Two additional unknown customers.
• : Hobart-class destroyers and Anzac-class frigates

Future operators

• : The Bulgarian Navy's New Multi-Purpose Corvettes are going to Utilize the MASS system.^[5]

Further reading

• Rheinmetall Defence - Mass Multi Ammunition Softkill System
• Rheinmetall Defence (March 31/09) - Rheinmetall to equip Canadian Navy frigates with Mass
• Rheinmetall Defence (April 21/08) - Mass decoy system safeguards ships from symmetric and asymmetric threats
• Behoerden Spiegel - MASS fuer die VAE

Notes and References

1. Web site: Full-speed ahead for MASS . 2011-03-03 . www.rheinmetall-detec.de . dead . https://archive.today/20120908045508/http://www.rheinmetall-detec.de/index.php?fid=5531&qid=&qpage=0&lang=3&query=MASS . 2012-09-08 .
2. Web site: New capabilities and a new MASS ship protection system customer.
3. Web site: Adquisicion de lanzadores de senuelos MASS . 2010-09-02 . Defensa.com . ADN - agencias . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170420234444/http://www.defensa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2265:adquisicion-de-lanzadores-de-senuelos-mass&catid=55:latinoamerica&Itemid=163 . 2017-04-20 .
4. Web site: Rheinmetall receives order from South Korea . 2012-04-17. www.rheinmetall-detec.de. dead . https://archive.today/20120908203514/http://www.rheinmetall-detec.de/index.php?fid=5745&qid=&qpage=0&lang=3&query=MASS . 2012-09-08.
5. Web site: 2022-04-18 . С колко ще поскъпнат новите кораби? МО започва да ги въоръжава . 2023-06-28 . Mediapool.bg . bg-BG.