Denmark to equip 5 frigates with Rheinmetall MASS decoy launchers

Published Aug 12, 08:21 AM UTC

Denmark's Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO) has awarded Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH a contract to supply five Multi-Ammunition Softkill System (MASS) decoy launchers for the Royal Danish Navy. The systems will retrofit two Absalon-class anti-submarine warfare frigates and three Iver Huitfeldt-class air defense frigates. The contract includes training services and a 20-year framework agreement covering ammunition supply and maintenance. MASS is an off-board decoy system that protects naval vessels against incoming missiles and asymmetric threats by creating multispectral deception across radar, ultraviolet, electro-optical, laser, and infrared bands. The system autonomously launches countermeasures that create a decoy target, factoring in wind, navigation data, and threat type. Rheinmetall states the modular system can be installed on ships of any size and integrated into existing command systems or operated standalone.