Rheinmetall MASS

History

Rheinmetall's Multi Ammunition Softkill System (MASS) is a naval soft-kill self-protection system that deploys multispectral decoys against guided-weapon and sensor threats. Rheinmetall states that the system can protect vessels in blue-water, coastal, river and shallow-water environments and can be integrated with existing command and weapon-control systems or operated as a stand-alone installation.

The system is used on surface combatants ranging from patrol vessels to frigates. By August 2026, Rheinmetall said MASS was in service with 18 countries and that more than 400 launchers were operating worldwide. The company also described Denmark as the 18th user after the Danish Armed Forces placed an order for systems and Omnitrap-ER decoys.

Recent procurement and development activity has included Australian assembly work, the introduction of the MASS nova variant, and new orders from Kuwait and Denmark. These programs show continued development of the launcher and its decoy ammunition rather than a replacement of the basic MASS concept.

Australian production

Australia awarded Rheinmetall a contract in May 2023 for six MASS countermeasure systems intended initially for Royal Australian Navy Hobart-class destroyers and ANZAC-class frigates. Rheinmetall Defence Australia had begun assembly work on the six systems by March 2025. Delivery was scheduled to be completed by the end of 2027, while the Australian subsidiary was also assigned responsibility for sustainment after delivery.

MASS nova

Rheinmetall unveiled MASS nova at DSEI 2025 in London in September 2025. The new configuration introduced a trainable launcher with a variable fan angle, greater capacity for 81 mm Omni-Trap decoys and faster firing intended to reduce time to effect. It also introduced the rocket-powered Omni-Trap ER Mk 2, which Janes reported as having a range of up to 400 m.

MASS nova also added the 3D Decoy Swarm, or 3DDS, concept. According to the Janes report on MASS nova, these radio-frequency decoy drones are intended to operate as a swarm and create a three-dimensional radar return that separates from the protected ship.

2026 orders

Kuwait selected MASS in 2026 for eight Al Dorra-class guided-missile boats. The package included launchers and Omnitrap-ER ammunition. Installation and commissioning were scheduled to continue through the second quarter of 2029. Naval Technology reported that the standard MASS configuration can use up to six trainable launchers per vessel, with each launcher able to discharge up to 32 Omni Trap decoys.

Denmark signed a MASS contract on 18 June 2026, with the procurement publicly reported in August. Janes stated that the Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation had contracted Rheinmetall for five launchers for Absalon-class and Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates and the Royal Danish Navy's weapons school. Denmark also ordered an unspecified quantity of Omnitrap-ER decoys. Rheinmetall stated that deliveries were scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027.

The Danish support arrangement was described differently by the sources. Janes reported an up to 20-year framework agreement covering operation, maintenance and supply, while Rheinmetall's announcement described a supply contract with a term of up to 21 years. Janes also reported an estimated procurement and support value of DKK745 million, with a maximum value of nearly DKK1.3 billion.

Design

MASS is built around trainable decoy launchers and multispectral expendables. Rheinmetall states that one system can cover radar, ultraviolet, electro-optical, laser and infrared threat bands. The modular architecture allows installation on vessels of different sizes and permits integration with existing command and weapon-control systems or stand-alone operation.

The standard configuration cited by Navy Leaders and Naval Technology allows up to six trainable launchers on a vessel, each carrying up to 32 decoys. Navy Leaders reported that the system can automatically select and deploy a countermeasure while taking account of wind conditions and the ship's navigation data.

Omnitrap-ER is an extended-range decoy ordered by both Denmark and Kuwait. Rheinmetall describes it as intended for modern imaging-radar and infrared-guided threats. Its increased range and modified trajectory, combined with the trainable launcher, are intended to give the system more control over where the false target is generated relative to the ship.

MASS nova launcher and effectors

MASS nova increases launcher capacity to 40 plus four decoys and uses 81 mm Omni-Trap ammunition. The launcher has a variable fan angle, allowing denser screening at different distances and more precise placement of countermeasures. The variant also uses the rocket-powered Omni-Trap ER Mk 2 and is designed to fire decoys faster than the earlier configuration.

The 3DDS radio-frequency effector is a further MASS nova feature. The decoy drones are intended to form a swarm that produces a ship-like radar signature and progressively separates from the host vessel regardless of wind conditions.

Operational history

Rheinmetall described MASS as a battle-proven system in August 2026 and stated that it was then in service in 18 countries with more than 400 launchers in operation worldwide. A March 2025 report on the Australian program had described MASS as being in use by at least 16 navies.

Australia's six-system program was in assembly during 2025 and was planned for completion by the end of 2027. Kuwait's eight-vessel installation program was planned to run through the second quarter of 2029. Denmark's launchers were scheduled to begin delivery in the fourth quarter of 2027, so the Danish systems described in the 2026 procurement sources were not yet delivered at the time of those reports.

Variants

• MASS standard configuration: Trainable launcher-based naval decoy system. Secondary sources describe installations with up to six launchers per vessel and up to 32 decoys per launcher.
• MASS nova: New-generation configuration unveiled in 2025 with a variable-angle trainable launcher, capacity for 40 plus four 81 mm Omni-Trap decoys, faster firing, Omni-Trap ER Mk 2 ammunition and the 3DDS radio-frequency decoy-swarm concept.

Procurement and planned installations

• Australia: Six MASS systems ordered in 2023 for initial installation on Hobart-class destroyers and ANZAC-class frigates. Assembly had begun by March 2025, with delivery scheduled by the end of 2027.
• Kuwait: MASS selected in 2026 for eight Al Dorra-class guided-missile boats, with installation and commissioning scheduled through the second quarter of 2029.
• Denmark: Five launchers contracted in June 2026 for Absalon-class and Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates and the Royal Danish Navy's weapons school. Deliveries were scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027.

Specifications (MASS nova)

Launcher and ammunition

• Launcher type: Trainable launcher with variable fan angle.
• Decoy capacity: 40 plus four decoys.
• Decoy diameter: 81 mm for Omni-Trap ammunition.
• Extended-range munition: Omni-Trap ER Mk 2.
• Omni-Trap ER Mk 2 range: Up to 400 m.

Countermeasure coverage

• Spectral coverage: Radar, ultraviolet, electro-optical, laser and infrared bands.
• Additional radio-frequency effector: 3D Decoy Swarm (3DDS) decoy drones.