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Naval
Defence Industry News - Germany, Israel |
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Bundeswehr, Rheinmetall & IAI/ELTA successfully test MASS &
NavGuard ship protection systems |
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The Bundeswehr, Rheinmetall and the Israel Aerospace Industries' (IAI)
ELTA Group have successfully tested the MASS and NavGuard ship protection
systems. The trials took place under the aegis of the German Navy in
Howachter Bay in the Baltic at the end of October 2013. Also taking
part in the trials was 2 Company, 92 Mechanized Infantry Battalion,
a German Army unit based in Munster. |
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Rheinmetall's Multi Ammunition Softkill System (MASS) naval countermeasure
system in action
Picture: Rheinmetall |
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The
trials were based on an asymmetric warfare scenario. The objective was
to protect naval units from the threat posed by land-based forces armed
with passive guided missiles. As part of their gunnery training, the
mechanized infantrymen played the part of the aggressors. Operating
in Todendorf Major Training Area, they fired MILAN antitank missiles
at the German Navy mine warfare ship HL 352 Auerbach in Hohwachter Bay. |
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Rheinmetall's Multi Ammunition Softkill System (MASS) naval countermeasure
system in action
Picture: Rheinmetall |
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In order
to defend itself from this type of threat, the Auerbach was equipped
with Rheinmetall's Multi Ammunition Softkill System (MASS) naval countermeasure
system, specifically the MASS_ISS "Integrated Sensor Suite"
version. MASS_ISS features various sensors for detecting radar, laser
and electro-optical threats. The latest additional component is the
innovative ELTA NavGuard radar detection system, which actively warns
the crew of incoming rockets and guided missiles. |
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A MILAN guided missile was shot at the ship by Bundeswher 92 Mechanized
Infantry Battalion
Picture: Rheinmetall |
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In this
scenario the mission entailed detecting the passive MILAN guided missile
with NavGuard immediately after launch, and engaging it with MASS. The
countermeasures initiated by MASS were then supposed to cause the incoming
missile to crash. The challenge was two-fold: assuring reliable detection
of the passively guided, very small missile, and accomplishing this
in an extremely short period of time. A mere 14 seconds were available
for detecting the incoming missile, sounding the alarm, triggering the
MASS countermeasures and bringing down the MILAN. |
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NavGuard detects the incoming passive missile and MASS destroys it
Picture: Rheinmetall |
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No few
fewer than five times, NavGuard flawlessly detected the incoming projectiles
in extremely short order, which were then successfully engaged by MASS.
These excellent results are a further milestone in the use of modern
technology to combat asymmetric threats.
Rheinmetall intends to have the MASS_ISS with integrated NavGuard ready
for fullscale production by 2015. |
