Kuwait has awarded German defense company Rheinmetall a contract to supply its Multi Ammunition Softkill System (MASS) for the Kuwaiti Naval Forces. This is the first time the Gulf nation has selected the company’s advanced naval decoy launcher technology.
The contract covers the installation of MASS systems on eight new Al Dorra-class guided-missile patrol vessels, alongside the delivery of Omnitrap-ER decoy ammunition and associated integration and verification services. According to Rheinmetall, the combined contract is valued in the mid-double-digit million-euro range, with deliveries scheduled to continue through the second quarter of 2029.
These decoys are designed to enhance a warship’s survivability
The acquisition forms part of Kuwait’s most significant naval shipbuilding programme in more than 15 years. The Al Dorra-class vessels are being constructed by Abu Dhabi Shipbuilding for EDGE Group, which serves as the programme’s prime contractor.
MASS is designed to enhance a warship’s survivability by deploying multispectral decoys that confuse and divert incoming threats before they can strike. The system is capable of countering a broad spectrum of modern anti-ship weapons, including radar-guided, infrared-guided, laser-guided and electro-optically guided missiles. By creating tailored decoy patterns across multiple wavelengths, MASS seeks to mislead hostile sensors and increase a vessel’s chances of evading attack.
Expendable decoys offer greater deployment range
As part of the package, Kuwait will also receive Rheinmetall’s Omnitrap-ER decoy ammunition. The latest-generation expendable decoys offer greater deployment range and improved flight characteristics, enabling more effective protection against increasingly sophisticated imaging radar and infrared missile seekers.
One of the system’s key advantages is its modular architecture, allowing it to be integrated into a wide variety of naval platforms, from offshore patrol vessels to larger frigates. It can also be connected with existing combat management systems or operated independently, providing flexibility for different fleet configurations.
The contract further strengthens Rheinmetall’s position in the international naval protection market while supporting Kuwait’s ongoing efforts to modernise its maritime defence capabilities. As regional navies place greater emphasis on countering advanced missile threats, soft-kill protection systems such as MASS are becoming an increasingly important component of layered naval defence.
With deliveries set to run until 2029, the programme is expected to significantly enhance the defensive capabilities of Kuwait’s future surface fleet and reinforce the country’s investment in modern maritime security.
Kuwait’s investment reflects a broader trend among Gulf nations to modernize naval capabilities amid evolving regional security challenges. Protecting shipping lanes, offshore oil and gas infrastructure and strategic maritime approaches has become a priority as anti-ship missile technology continues to proliferate.
For Rheinmetall, the contract strengthens its footprint in the Gulf defence market while reinforcing the company’s position as a leading supplier of naval electronic warfare and soft-kill protection systems.
As deliveries continue through 2029, the MASS-equipped Al Dorra-class patrol vessels are expected to provide Kuwait with a more resilient and survivable surface fleet capable of operating in an increasingly complex maritime threat environment.