MASS (decoy launcher)

MASS flare launcher on the Finnish speedboat FNS Pori (Hamina class)

MASS ( M ulti A mmunition S oftkill S ystem) is a decoy system developed by Buck Neue Technologie GmbH , which was developed to protect naval ships against anti-ship missiles , and has been in series production since the takeover of Buck Neue Technologie GmbH by Rheinmetall since 2004.

description

Each launcher has 32 tubes which can be reloaded manually for the use of programmable, omnispectral decoys. By using multispectral decoys it is possible to cover all relevant spectral ranges ( radar , IR , UV , EO , laser and visible light) with a single system. While radar- and infrared-guided weapon systems are supposed to offer the wrong target by means of aluminum-coated fiberglass strips ( chaff ) or the burning of heat flares made of red phosphorus ( flares ), laser- and electro-optically guided missiles should be deflected from the target by an artificial smoke screen that is impenetrable for their sensors become.

By controlling five parameters ( azimuth , elevation , distance, amount, sequence) the system can react very flexibly. In the case of an  anti-ship missile approaching at Mach 2, the response time should be only 2 s. In the standard version, an approaching missile is detected via the ship's sensors. In addition, a variant with integrated passive sensors against radar, laser and electro-optical threats is offered.

Users

MASS has so far (as of April 2012) been introduced in 11 countries (see below). To date, a total of 186 MASS units have been procured worldwide for use on 22 classes of frigates, corvettes, patrol boats and minesweepers.

The users include:

•  Germany : Frigates F123 , F124 and F125 , Corvette K130 , minehunters of the Frankenthal class and Kulmbach class

•  Canada : Halifax class

•  Finland : Hamina class , Hämeenmaa class

•  Norway : Skjold class

•  Oman : Khareef class

•  Sweden : Gothenburg class , Stockholm class and Visby class

•  United Arab Emirates : Baynunah Class , Abu Dhabi Class and Falaj 2 Class

•  Peru : Lupo class

•  South Korea : LST-II class

literature

• Norman Friedman: The Naval Institute guide to world naval weapon systems. US Naval Institute Press, 2006, ISBN 1557502625

Web links

Commons : MASS  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• 60 seconds Bundeswehr: MASS ( YouTube video, June 26, 2019)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Rheinmetall Defense - Rheinmetall weapon ammunition. Retrieved January 19, 2018 . 
2. ^ Page of the manufacturer ( Memento of October 30, 2007 in the Internet Archive ). Retrieved May 28, 2010.
3. ^ Analysis by Greenpeace as protection for nuclear power plants (PDF; 173 kB). Retrieved May 28, 2010.
4. ↑ Rheinmetall: Rheinmetall receives order from South Korea: MASS naval countermeasures system for LST-II-class ships  ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) (PDF), accessed on June 25, 2012.