Charting a course for continued success - Rheinmetall's MASS naval countermeasure system
06/28/2010
The navies of many nations know they can count on Rheinmetall’s MASS countermeasure system to protect their fleets from enemy missile attacks. Standing for "Multi Ammunition Softkill System", MASS is the world’s most advanced system for protecting frigates, corvettes, minesweepers and patrol boats. Outmanoeuvring the international competition, the company has just booked three more important orders for this state-of-the-art force protection system.
The United Arab Emirates have contracted with Rheinmetall Defence to equip its Abu Dhabi-class vessels and Falaj 2-class stealth ships with MASS technology. The German Navy, too, has placed an order to have four of its F125-class frigates equipped with the system. Volume for the three orders totals some €12.5 million.
Since the product was first launched in 2002, Rheinmetall has sold 158 MASS launchers. It successfully penetrated the North American market in 2009, when Canada chose the system for its Halifax-class frigate programme, marking an important milestone on the product’s path to becoming standard NATO equipment.
Owing to its high reliability and negligible maintenance needs, MASS is well suited to the task of protecting Germany’s F125-class frigates, which are expected to remain on station in foreign waters for up to two years at a time. Designed to take the lead in future stabilization operations, the MASS-equipped F125 frigate will be well-protected from surface-to-surface missiles as well asymmetric threats in coastal areas.
A compelling self-defence capability
Guided missiles and other projectiles pose a constant threat to naval vessels and civilian shipping. On the high seas and in littoral zones, MASS protects ships from attacks involving modern, sensor-guided munitions as well as from asymmetric terrorist-type assaults. MASS works by firing decoys to lure enemy projectiles away from their intended target.
Fully automated, Rheinmetall’s MASS naval countermeasures system offers substantial tactical, operational and logistical advantages, and can be installed onboard any type of vessel. It can be integrated into the ship’s command and control infrastructure or serve as a stand-alone system. Innovative and programmable, the system’s omnispectral ammunition assures comprehensive protection in all relevant wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum, including radar, infrared, laser, electro-optical and ultraviolet. Numerous test campaigns have demonstrated its effectiveness in compelling fashion.
Contact
Rheinmetall AG
Corporate Sector Defence
Press and Information
Oliver Hoffmann
Rheinmetall Platz 1
40476 Düsseldorf
Germany
Phone: +49 211 473-4748
Fax: +49 211 473-4157
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