Australia Orders Rheinmetall’s MASS Ship Protection Systems for Navy’s Hobart, ANZAC Warships

The Royal Australian Navy and the Commonwealth of Australia awarded Rheinmetall €125 million for Multi Ammunition Softkill System (MASS).

These systems will initially be used to equip its Hobart-class destroyers and ANZAC-class frigates. Following extensive trials, MASS was selected on account of its unique capabilities.

The first systems are to be delivered by the end of 2023, with full operational capability achieved by 2027. This is the Group’s single-biggest order ever for ship protection technology. Total sales volume could potentially come to A$1 billion (approx. €610 million), as the contract includes an option for equipping Australia’s entire fleet.

Because the contract includes the transfer of MASS technology, Rheinmetall Defence Australia will be able to produce the systems under licence, before installing and commissioning them onboard Australia’s seagoing surface combatants.

The MASS systems ordered by the Royal Australian Navy will be assembled at Rheinmetall Defence Australia’s MILVEHCOE centre. This will result in new possibilities for expanding the Group’s Australian supply chain.

The Multi Ammunition Softkill System (MASS) protects ships and boats from multifaceted threats from anti-ship guided missiles and laser-guided weapons – on the high seas, in littoral waters and on rivers.

Offering protection against modern sensor-guided missiles in all relevant wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum, MASS can be installed on vessels of all sizes and readily integrated into existing shipboard command and weapon engagement systems or operate as a standalone system. In the standard version, MASS consists of up to six trainable launchers, each of which can fire up to 32 Omni Trap decoy munitions.