Delivery of 300th MASS naval countermeasures system by Rheinmetall.

According to a press release published by Rheinmetall on April 29, 2021, the experts from Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH's Fronau branch delivered the 300th MASS Multi Ammunition Softkill System to Finnish Navy.
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Hamina-class FNS Tornio 81 (Picture source: Rheinmetall)

Rheinmetall's Multi Ammunition Softkill System (MASS) family of ship protection systems is suitable for use by blue, green and brown water navies. It protects ships and boats against a wide range of threats – on the high seas as well as in coastal waters or on rivers. The fully automated MASS decoy system offers a unique degree of protection against modern, sensor-guided missiles, covering all relevant wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum. MASS can be installed on any type of vessel. Moreover, it can be integrated into an existing combat management system (CMS) or operate as a standalone system. Ordinarily, MASS consists of between one and six trainable launchers. Each launcher can fire 32 Omni Trap special effect charges. Each launcher comes with a control unit and a data interface.

Rheinmetall has steadily expanded its family of MASS ship protection systems. Two new variants of this tried-and-tested decoy launcher system are the MASS_OCR with off-board corner reflector and the new standalone version MASS_ISS with Integrated Sensor Suite for units that lack an independent capability for detecting laser and radar threats, etc.

The MASS_OCR version features special deception and diversion capabilities. Each launcher is armed with two off-board corner rockets that produce ship-like radar signatures. Programmed for a range of between 35 and 850 metres, the effects they produce last for over 60 seconds.

Developed especially for vessels without organic shipboard reconnaissance systems, Rheinmetall’s MASS_ISS with Integrated Sensor Suite is a standalone system with an integrated sensor suite. Forming an integral part of the MASS_ISS system complex, the REKa-50, which stands for “Rheinmetall ESM Ka-Band”, assures reliable detection and effective engagement of threats in the millimetre wave radar frequency range. Moreover, Rheinmetall is a one-stop-shop supplier here, producing the decoy systems, the decoy munitions as well as providing and integrating the sensors. The number of launchers is scalable. All of them are linked together and controlled by Rheinmetall’s firing algorithms. It also includes a sensor system with radar and laser warning sensors, a tactical control unit and a power supply.

Rheinmetall is constantly developing its tried-and-tested MASS family so that it can continue to offer ships and boats the best possible protection on the high seas and near the coast.

FNS Tornio (81) is a Finnish Navy Hamina-class missile boat launching an Umkhonto-IR SAM in October 2016.

Hamina-class is armed with four RBS-15 mk3 anti-ship missiles that have a firing range of over 100 km as well as 8 Umkhonto-IR a South African family of modern short- to medium-range, all-weather-capable vertical launch (VLS) surface-to-air missiles (SAM) manufactured by South Africa's Denel Dynamics surface-to-air missile system can simultaneously engage up to eight aircraft within a 20 km range. The ship is also armed with a Bofors 57mm gun located at the front deck and two 12.7mm heavy machine guns are also fitted on the craft. The ship can also be fitted with mine rail to detect sea mines.