MASS (decoy system)

MASS decoy launcher of a Hamina-class missile boat.

MASS (Multi Ammunition Softkill System) 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 on the electromagnetic spectrum (ultra violet, electro-optical, laser, infrared and radar). MASS can be either plugged into the command and control module of a naval vessel, or operate autonomously.

Rheinmetall Defence has stated that "MASS has attracted orders from 9 nations, for 130 launchers, on 15 different classes of naval vessels" as of March 31/09. 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 17th of April 2012, the total was at 186 launchers for 22 different classes of vessels in 11 different nations.

Customers

•  Germany: Brandenburg class frigates, Braunschweig class corvettes, Frankenthal class mine hunters, Kulmbach class mine hunters and the future Baden-Württemberg class frigates
•  Canada: Halifax class frigates
•  Pakistan: Tariq class frigates
•  Finland: Hamina class missile boats, Hämeenmaa class minelayers, Rauma-class missile boats
•  Norway: Skjold class corvettes
•  Oman: Khareef class corvettes
•  Sweden: Göteborg class corvettes, Stockholm class corvettes and Visby class corvettes
•  United Arab Emirates: Baynunah class corvette, Abu Dhabi class corvette, Falaj 2 class patrol vessel
•  Peru: Lupo class frigate^[2]
•  South Korea: LST-II-class landing ships ^[3]
• two additional unknown customers.

Additional Readings

• 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

1. "Full-speed ahead for MASS". www.rheinmetall-detec.de. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
2. "Adquisicion de lanzadores de senuelos MASS". Defensa.com (ADN - agencias ed.). Retrieved 2010-09-02.
3. "Rheinmetall receives order from South Korea". www.rheinmetall-detec.de. Retrieved 2012-04-17.