DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Full-Speed Ahead For MASS - Germany, Finland And Peru All Order Rheinmetall Naval Countermeasure System

Defense News: DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Full-Speed Ahead For MASS - Germany, Finland And Peru All Order Rheinmetall Naval Countermeasure System

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Rheinmetall

(NSI News Source Info) DUSSELDORF, Germany - March 6, 2011: To protect their fleets from missile attacks, the navies of Peru, Finland and Germany have all ordered MASS, Rheinmetall’s "Multi Ammunition Softkill System", a state-of-the-art decoy system for protecting frigates, corvettes, minesweepers and patrol craft. In winning these three orders, MASS has once again outclassed its international rivals as well as gaining a foothold in the South American market. The three orders are worth a total of approximately €15.5 million.

As part of a comprehensive modernization of its LUPO-class frigates, the Peruvian Navy has placed an order with Rheinmetall Defence initially to equip two ships with the MASS naval countermeasure system. The contract also includes an option for equipping two more frigates of this class within the next two years.

The German Navy has awarded Rheinmetall with another follow-on order for equipping its minesweepers with MASS, reflecting the great emphasis Germany places on force protection. Following immediate retrofitting in 2008 of two countermine vessels in response to an urgent operational requirement (UNIFIL), two more vessels of the same class were equipped with MASS in 2009. Under the current order, two more countermine vessels will be equipped with a MASS two-launcher configuration with integrated detection unit.

The Finnish Navy, opting once again for MASS, has contracted with Rheinmetall Defence to retrofit six RAUMA-class missile boats. In 2002, Finland – the system’s pilot customer – had its Hamina-class fast attack craft outfitted with MASS technology.

Since its market launch in 2002, customers around the globe have ordered no fewer than 172 launcher units.

Superior protection with MASS

Guided missiles and other projectiles pose a constant threat to civilian shipping and naval vessels alike. MASS protects ships from attacks using advanced, sensor-guided missiles on the high seas and coastal waters as well as from asymmetric, terrorist-type threats. MASS fires decoy rounds which lure incoming projectiles away from their intended target.

Fully automatic, the MASS naval countermeasure system offers significant tactical, operational and logistical advantages and can be installed onboard any vessel. Moreover, it can be integrated into any command and control system or operated in standalone mode.

The MASS system’s innovative, programmable omnispectral rounds assure protection in all relevant wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum (radar, infrared, laser, EO, UV). Numerous international test campaigns have demonstrated its effectiveness in compelling fashion.

MASS with integrated detection unit

Featuring an integrated detection unit, the "MASS ISS – Integrated Sensor Suite" represents an innovative departure in naval electronic warfare. Jointly developed by Rheinmetall Defence and Saab (Electronic Defence Systems), this new version of MASS comes with sensors capable of detecting both radar and laser threats.

Contact

Rheinmetall AG
Corporate Sector Defence
Press and Information
Oliver Hoffmann
Rheinmetall Platz 1
40476 Düsseldorf
Germany
Phone: +49 211 473-4748
Fax: +49 211 473-4157

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources

Rheinmetall

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DTN News: KONGSBERG And Rheinmetall Sign Framework Agreement

Defense News: DTN News: KONGSBERG And Rheinmetall Sign Framework Agreement

Source: DTN News / Kongsberg Gruppen

(NSI News Source Info) KONGSBERG, Norway - October 22, 2010: The scope of this agreement is to provide a framework for the co-operation between the companies for the Remote Weapon Station (RWS) product area.

Through this agreement the companies intend to not only maintain, but also to expand the co-operation as well as establish joint sales efforts in some international markets.

Kongsberg and Rheinmetall have entered into this co-operation agreement to promote the KONGSBERG PROTECTOR family of RWS' and also increase the level of integration between the two companies' product lines. The overall objective of bringing the two high technology companies together is to offer leading-edge solutions and to raise the value for our international customers.

KONGSBERG (OSE Ticker: KOG) is an international, knowledge-based group that supplies high-technology systems and solutions to customers engaged in the oil and gas industry, the merchant marine, and the defence and aerospace industries. In 2009, KONGSBERG had a turnover of NOK 13.8 billion, and the Group had 5 423 employees in more than 25 countries.

Rheinmetall AG is a globe-spanning defence technology and automotive engineering group with an international customer base. Employing a 20,000-strong global work force, the Rheinmetall Group generated sales in FY 2009 of around 3.4 billion Euro. Rheinmetall Defence's six divisions – Vehicle Systems, Weapons and Ammunition, Air Defence, Propellants, Defence Electronics and Simulation and Training – supply the world's armed forces with a comprehensive array of products and services.

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Germany Orders Mortar Vehicle for Afghanistan / Rheinmetall Wins EUR 54 Million Order to Equip the Bundeswehr with an Advanced Mortar System

Rheinmetall Wins EUR 54 Million Order to Equip the Bundeswehr with an Advanced Mortar System
(Source: Rheinmetall AG; issued June 25, 2009)
Rheinmetall AG of Düsseldorf has just been awarded a EUR 54 million contract to equip the German armed forces with a state-of-the-art mortar system. The system’s newly developed 120mm mortar track and associated support vehicles make an important contribution to the mission-oriented modernization of the Bundeswehr armoury. This important order encompasses eight Wiesel 2 (Weasel) vehicles, each of which is armed with a 120mm mortar (lePzMrs). An option exists for an additional two vehicles configured for a command and control role, and worth some EUR 7.5 million. Delivery is slated to take place in 2011. Combining impressive firepower with advanced command and control technology, Rheinmetall’s highly mobile Mortar Combat System significantly enhances the Bundeswehr’s combat effectiveness, enabling it to respond to new threats in situations where it has hitherto often lacked the necessary capabilities. On the international plane, this state-of-the-art system places the Bundeswehr on the global cutting edge. Based on Rheinmetall’s tried-and-tested Wiesel 2 lightweight tracked armoured vehicle, various configurations of which have already been successfully fielded, the air-portable Mortar Combat System is specially designed to support infantry and airmobile operations in scenarios where protection is required. It supersedes obsolete, manually operated Tampella-type mortars, which have long since ceased to meet today’s operational needs. Furthermore, some existing stocks of mortar ammunition are now over 25 years old, and thus no longer authorized for use. The vehicles just ordered constitute a mortar platoon which will be used to support ongoing operations in Afghanistan. In particular, the system is expected to play an important role in countering asymmetric threats to Bundeswehr bases and convoys in this challenging area of operation. Thanks to its enhanced range, heightened precision and optimized lethality, the system also lends itself to operations in difficult terrain and in urban areas. The complete Mortar Combat System can be airlifted in a CH-53 cargo helicopter or Transall C 160. Rugged yet flexible, it is designed to deliver maximum mobility even in tough terrain, as well as substantially increasing the firepower, combat effectiveness and accuracy of units deployed in harm’s way. Force protection also features more prominently than in previous systems: the Wiesel 2 provides its 3-man crew with effective protection against ballistic threats and NBC agents. Fast and flexible, the Mortar Combat System is able to respond very quickly to emerging threats even in a constantly shifting operating environment, aided by efficient and effective use of newly developed, enhanced range, high-precision mortar ammunition. The system is ready for action just 60 seconds after breaking cover, and can fire up to three rounds in less than 20 seconds. Moreover, since the lePzMrs mortar track can evacuate its fire position approximately 15 seconds after completing a fire mission, it is able to take cover before the rounds it has fired have reached the enemy position. This kind of "hide, hit, run, hide” tactic makes enemy reconnaissance much harder, thus adding to the safety of the soldiers on board the Wiesel 2. Although the tracked mortar can also be deployed autonomously, one of the most salient characteristics of this “system of systems” is its outstanding networkability with all relevant command echelons. Linking the individual vehicle systems into a unified information network – with a constant exchange of operationally relevant data – enhances the Mortar Combat System’s overall operational effectiveness and ability to react quickly. It all comes down to teamwork: targets are detected and identified, information analyzed and processed, options weighed and fire control data generated; finally, the lePzMrs Wiesel 2 mortar track goes into action. Rheinmetall’s new 120mm mortar ammunition can hit targets up to approx. 8,000 metres away, a substantial increase in range; it is also significantly more accurate and effective. The use of terminal phase-guided munitions should lead to a further increase in performance. New smoke/obscurant and infrared illumination rounds are also planned.