MASS is a naval self-defence system, produced by Rheinmetall

Rheinmetall

Rheinmetall AG is a German automotive and defence company with factories in Düsseldorf, Kassel and Unterlüß. The company has a long tradition of making guns and artillery pieces...

 of Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

. 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

Laser

A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...

, infrared

Infrared

Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...

 and radar

Radar

Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...

).

As of March 31/09, Rheinmetall Defence stated that "MASS has attracted orders from 9 nations, for 130 launchers, on 15 different classes of naval vessels."

Customers

: Brandenburg class frigate

Brandenburg class frigate

The F123 Brandenburg class is a class of German frigate. They were ordered by the German Navy in June 1989, and then completed and commissioned between 1994 and 1996 to replace the Hamburg class destroyers...

s, Braunschweig class corvette

Braunschweig class corvette

The K130 Braunschweig class is Germany's newest class of ocean-going corvettes. They supplement the Gepard class fast attack craft that are currently used.-Technical details:...

s, Frankenthal class mine hunter

Frankenthal class mine hunter

The Type 332 Frankenthal class mine hunter is a class of German mine hunters. The ships are built of non-magnetic steel. Hull, machinery and superstructure of this class is similar to the original Type 343 Hameln class minesweeper, but the equipment differs....

s, Kulmbach class mine hunter

Kulmbach class mine hunter

The Type 333 Kulmbach class is a class of five German Navy ships. Built as Type 343 Hameln class minesweepers, they have been upgraded to minehunters using Seefuchs expendable drones to detonate detected naval mines.-List of ships:...

s and the future Baden-Württemberg class frigates

F125 class frigate

F125 is the project name for the Type 125 Baden-Württemberg class of frigates, currently in development for the German Navy by ARGE F125, a joint-venture of Thyssen-Krupp and Lürssen...

Halifax class frigate

Halifax class frigate

The Halifax-class frigate is a class of multi-role patrol frigates that have served the Royal Canadian Navy since 1992...

s

Hamina class missile boat

Hamina class missile boat

The Hamina class missile boat is a 4-strong class of fast attack craft of the Finnish Navy. Technically they are classified as "missile fast attack craft", ohjusvene, literally "missile boat" in Finnish.-History:...

s, Hämeenmaa class minelayer

Hämeenmaa class minelayer

The Hämeenmaa class minelayers is a two vessel strong class of minelayers, used by the Finnish Navy.The ships have a steel hull and alloy superstructure. The class has an ice operating classification of ICE-1A and can operate around the year...

s

Skjold class patrol boat

Skjold class patrol boat

The Skjold class patrol boats is a new class of superfast, large stealth missile craft, formerly known as MTBs . From 2009, the Royal Norwegian Navy officially label them as coastal corvettes because their seaworthiness is seen as comparable to corvettes. They are built at the Umoe Mandal yard...

s

Khareef class OPVs

G%C3%B6teborg class corvettes, Stockholm class corvette

Stockholm class corvette

Stockholm class corvette is a corvette class in the Swedish Navy. Built in Karlskrona 1984–1985, it is armed with eight RBS15 anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, one 57mm cannon and several machine guns. In 1999/2000 the two units in the class were upgraded in the Karlskrona shipyard Kockums...

s and Visby class corvette

Visby class corvette

The Visby is the latest class of corvette to be adopted by the Royal Swedish Navy after the Göteborg and the Stockholm class corvettes. The ship's design heavily emphasizes "low visibility" or stealth technology. The first ship in the class is named after Visby, the main city on the island of Gotland...

s

Baynunah class corvette

Baynunah class corvette

The Baynunah class are corvettes for the United Arab Emirates' Navy. The lead ship is named after the Baynunah region in Abu Dhabi. Six ships are planned for this class. Sea trials are currently underway...

Lupo class frigate

Lupo class frigate

The Lupo class is a class of frigates built by Cantieri Navali Riuniti for the Italian Navy. Designed as multipurpose warships with emphasis on anti-surface warfare , they have enjoyed some success in the export market, being acquired by the navies of Peru and Venezuela...

three 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