Multi Ammunition Softkill System

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 be either plugged into the command and control module of a naval vessel, or operate autonomously.

MASS decoy launcher of a Hamina-class missile boat.

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 the 17 April 2012, the total was 186 launchers for 22 different classes of vessels in 11 different nations.

Customers

•  Germany: Brandenburg-class frigates, Braunschweig-class corvettes, Frankenthal-class minehunters, Kulmbach-class mine hunters, and the future Baden-Württemberg-class frigates
•  Canada: Halifax-class frigates
•  Pakistan: Tariq-class destroyers
•  Finland: Hamina-class missile boats, Hämeenmaa-class minelayers, Rauma-class missile boats, Pohjanmaa-class corvettes
•  New Zealand: ANZAC Frigates, as part of the ANZAC modernization programme. [2]
•  Norway: Skjold-class corvettes
•  Oman: Khareef-class corvettes
•  Sweden: Goteborg-class corvettes, Stockholm-class corvettes, and Visby-class corvettes
•  United Arab Emirates: Baynunah class corvettes, Abu Dhabi-class corvettes, Falaj 2-class patrol vessels
•  Peru: Lupo-class frigate[3]
•  South Korea: LST-II-class landing ships [4]
• two additional unknown customers.

Notes

1. "Full-speed ahead for MASS". www.rheinmetall-detec.de. Archived from the original on 2012-09-08. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
2. "New capabilities and a new MASS ship protection system customer".
3. "Adquisicion de lanzadores de senuelos MASS". Defensa.com (ADN - agencias ed.). Archived from the original on 2017-04-20. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
4. "Rheinmetall receives order from South Korea". www.rheinmetall-detec.de. Archived from the original on 2012-09-08. Retrieved 2012-04-17.

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