The Danish Armed Forces have commissioned Rheinmetall to supply the MASS decoy system. A contract to this effect was recently signed in Copenhagen. In total, Rheinmetall will supply a number of Multi Ammunition Softkill Systems (MASS): for both the ABSALON-class frigates, the IVER-HUITFELDT-class frigates and the Royal Danish Navy’s Weapons School.
In addition, the Danish Armed Forces have ordered a quantity of Omnitrap-ER decoys. Deliveries are scheduled to commence in the fourth quarter of 2027. The contract value, which will be recognised in the second quarter of 2026, amounts to a two-digit million figure in euros In addition, a supply contract with a term of up to 21 years has been signed to enable the Danish Navy to replenish its MASS stock.
For MASS, this order means that the battle proven decoy system has now become the standard within the Scandinavian navies. In total, MASS is currently in use by 18 nations, with over 400 decoy launchers in operation worldwide.
“The past few months have demonstrated the outstanding role played by the Danish Navy in NATO’s maritime defence in the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and also in the Arctic,” said Hauke H. Bindzus, CEO of Rheinmetall’s Business Unit Protection Systems. “Against this backdrop, we are particularly grateful that we have now also been able to convince the Danish Navy of the superiority of our MASS system as a soft-kill protection system for its frigates. With this order from Denmark, every Scandinavian navy now has the Rheinmetall MASS launcher in service. Denmark becomes the 18th country to use this technology.”
MASS protects ships and boats from a wide range of threats, such as attacks by anti-ship missiles or laser-guided weapons – in blue water environment as well as in shallow water missions or on rivers. It offers multispectral decoys using a single system. To this end, it covers all relevant wavelength ranges, including radar, ultraviolet, electro-optical sensors, lasers and infrared.
Thanks to its modular design, MASS can be installed on vessels of any size – from offshore patrol vessels to frigates. It can be integrated into existing command and weapon control systems with minimal effort or operated as a stand-alone system.
Rheinmetall establishes UK-based autonomous systems centre of excellence
Rheinmetall is preparing for the next generation of warfare, while delivering world-class technology. To expedite the delivery and meet the demand for autonomous systems, Rheinmetall has opened a new Advanced Land Autonomy Centre of Excellence (ALACOE) in the United Kingdom, enhancing operational effectiveness across the region. The initiative is part of a wider network of centres localizing autonomy across Europe, USA, and Australia.
At the heart of this effort lies the Rheinmetall PATH technology, Rheinmetall Canada’s AI enabled autonomy kit developed in Canada, which provides perception, navigation, and decision making across complex, GPS degraded, and contested environments. PATH is platform agnostic and has been demonstrated on more than 40 wheeled and tracked vehicles, enabling autonomous navigation, leader follower convoy operations, and dynamic obstacle avoidance in dense terrain, littoral zones, and harsh climates.
Its maturity has been validated through demanding multinational trials and competitions, including NATO linked experimentation and the European Land Robot Trials (ELROB), where PATH enabled Rheinmetall systems achieved top performance in automated convoy operations, demonstrating readiness for real world deployment.
As countries strengthen and modernize their defence capabilities, the creation of this network of centres will also amplify Canada’s leading role in autonomous ground autonomous systems across Europe. ALACOE UK will serve the local market, bringing world leading ground autonomy directly to the UK market and surrounding regions while reinforcing the collective security across NATO members.
Through this ALACOE, Rheinmetall is actively integrating UK-based companies into the supply chain to localize advanced technologies. By serving as a hub for integration, testing, and deployment of autonomous land systems, it will strengthen British sovereignty while creating high-value engineering and technology jobs in the UK and sustaining advanced manufacturing production in Canada. The Centre will hence deliver significant economic benefits on both sides of the Atlantic.
Rebecca Richards, Managing Director Rheinmetall UK, said, “The establishment of the Centre of excellence in the UK reflects the growing importance of autonomy in delivering more agile and resilient land capabilities. As forces adapt to increasingly complex and dynamic threats, the ability to integrate and scale these technologies will be critical.”
President and CEO of Rheinmetall Canada Pietro Mazzei said, “Deploying the Canadian expertise and localizing the capability accelerates the delivery of advanced solutions, enhances long-term industrial resilience, and maximizes economic returns by expanding domestic participation in high growth defence technologies”.
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