Rapid
technological advances are making intelligent weapon systems smarter
and deadlier than ever. Rheinmetall has specialized for many years in
developing and producing high-quality components and innovative systems
for protecting people, vehicles, aircraft, ships and installations,
and offers a wide range of highly effective active, passive and softkill
protection solutions. A growing customer base underlines Rheinmetall’s
experience and competence in this field. Visitors to IDEX 2013 can view
three of the company’s advanced passive protection systems: Multi
Ammunition Softkill System (MASS), Bullfighter and the Rapid Obscurant
System (ROSY). |
Rheinmetall
MASS: piggyback naval countermeasure system for added punch
Rheinmetall’s Multi Ammunition Softkill System (MASS) protects
ships from attacks with modern, sensor-guided anti-ship missiles on
the high seas and littoral zones as well as from asymmetric, terrorist-type
threats by firing decoy rounds which diverts incoming missiles from
their intended target.
MASS has proven highly effective in various international trials. The
system’s innovative, programmable omnispectral rounds –
32 per launcher – assure protection in all relevant wavelengths
of the electromagnetic spectrum (radar, infrared, laser, electro-optic,
ultraviolet). MASS can be installed on board any type of ship, and operates
either in standalone mode or as an integral part of the ship’s
networked C4I and weapon engagement systems.
In addition to the standard MASS configuration, Rheinmetall offers two
optional versions, MASS_DUERAS and MASS_ISS.
The MASS_DUERAS is a piggyback solution. It features launching tubes
for distraction rockets mounted on top of the MASS launcher. Anti-torpedo
distraction rockets will also be available soon. In 2009 Canada chose
the MASS_DUERAS as standard equipment for the upgrade program of its
Halifax-class frigates.
Featuring built-in sensors for detecting radar, laser and electro-optical
threats, the MASS Integrated Sensor Suite (ISS) configuration has now
been extended to include “NavGuard”, an active missile approach
warning device. It is capable of detecting small incoming guided missiles
such as MILAN, Sagger or Fagott, and thus closes a vulnerability gap
when it comes to protecting vessels in littoral zones.
MASS offers a whole host of tactical, operational and logistical advantages,
and is specifically designed to meet the changing requirements of modern
navies, with abundant scope for future technological growth.
The procurement statistics bear this out. Since its market launch in
2002, thirteen nations have ordered a total of 200 MASS launcher systems
for no fewer than 25 different types of vessels. One of the latest customers
is the Algerian navy which has procured two MASS_4L for the Meko A200
frigates, each with a four launcher configuration and the long range
firing and distraction capability MASS_DUERAS. |
Rheinmetall
Rosy: State-of-the-art protection at sea and on land
Rheinmetall’s 40mm Rapid Obscurant System (ROSY) is a countermeasure
system designed for both naval and land applications.
The land version – the ROSY_L system – provides light military
and civilian vehicles with 360° protection from unexpected attacks
by countering conventional weapons, weapons with optical devices and
laser rangefinders (TV-, EO-, IR-, IIR-, laser- and SACLOS-guided weapons).
Unlike conventional smoke protection systems, ROSY not only produces
an instantaneous, large-area, multispectral interruption of the line
of sight in a fraction of a second, but also generates a dynamic smoke
screen, capable of providing vehicles on the move with sustained protection
from multiple attacks.
The naval version ROSY_N is optimized for protecting small vessels such
as fast attack craft, patrol vessels and rigid hull inflatable boats
(RHIB). ROSY_N creates a 1,000 square-metre multispectral smoke screen
in just 0.4 seconds and can counter multiple threats without reloading.
This helps to protect sailors, coast guards and special operations forces
units operating in coastal waters and on rivers to defend themselves
from sudden flat trajectory fire, such as small arms fire, RPGs and
missiles.
Just recently the Peruvian Navy has equipped six of its Griffon GH-2000
TD(M) hovercrafts with ROSY_N to protect them during operations in the
Amazon region to suppress drug trafficking. |
