Rheinmetall Defence Australia has set a year-end delivery date for the Multi Ammunition Softkill System ordered by the Royal Australian Navy in May. The company said Monday that it is looking for Australia-based partners that specialize in electronics, electrics and artillery to manufacture components for MASS.
According to Nathan Poyner, Rheinmetall Defence Australia managing director, RAN’s order will create over 30 new positions in the company aside from the ripple of employment opportunities in the partnerships that would be created.
The deal, valued at $133 million, is the single biggest order for ship protection technology for the company, Poyner said. “The contract includes an option for equipping Australia’s entire fleet,” he added.
Rheinmetall’s Centre of Excellence at Redbank in South-East Queensland will assemble the order, which will be used initially to equip 12 platforms. The system’s standard version features up to six trainable launchers, each capable of firing up to 32 decoy munitions.
Designed to offer protection against sensor-guided missiles and compatible with varying vessel sizes, MASS can be readily woven into existing shipboard command and weapon engagement systems.