Rheinmetall starts Australian MASS assembly in support of Royal Australian Navy

The MASS system is an ‘off-board’ countermeasure system to defeat incoming missile and asymmetric threats with a tailored soft kill and screening effect for naval vessels. MASS, will initially be used to equip six platforms and could potentially be fitted to Navy’s future fleet.

The countermeasures initiated by the system generate a decoy target, which the incoming missile then interprets to be a higher-value asset, ultimately causing the threat to veer off course.  MASS sends these countermeasures autonomously, taking into account wind and the ship’s navigation data as well as information concerning the nature of the threat.

Nathan Poyner, Rheinmetall Defence Australia Managing Director, said that following extensive trials, MASS was selected on its unique capabilities.

“This is the Group’s single-biggest order ever for ship protection technology and could potentially grow to equip Australia’s entire fleet.

“Rheinmetall Defence Australia assembles the systems in Australia, before installing and commissioning them on-board the Navy’s seagoing surface combatants.

“The Australian MASS contract has secured more than 30 new jobs at MILVEHCOE for the shipsets.

“While the contract end date is 2027, Rheinmetall Defence Australia is responsible for the sustainment of these countermeasure units beyond that time,” Mr Poyner said.

“The MASS systems ordered by the Royal Australian Navy are assembled and tested at Rheinmetall Defence Australia’s centre of excellence for military vehicles.

“This will result in new possibilities for expanding the Group’s Australian supply chain. MASS offers potential partners in the Australian defence sector the chance to cooperate with Rheinmetall and the Royal Australian Navy in realising this important defensive capability.

“Rheinmetall is committed to building Australian Industry Capability and creating advanced manufacturing Australian jobs in trades including Mechanical, Electrical, Ammunition and Software.

“Our partnership with the Royal Australian Navy is a key element of our long-term investment in Australia’s Defence capability, and we are proud to be part of the Australian Government’s work to develop a robust, sustainable, and globally competitive defence industry,” Nathan Poyner said.