Kuwait orders Rheinmetall’s MASS ship protection system for Al Dorra-class vessels

July 10, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

Rheinmetall has received a contract from the Kuwaiti Naval Forces to supply its multi-ammunition softkill system (MASS) ship protection system for eight Al Dorra-class guided-missile boats, marking the first delivery of the decoy launcher system to Kuwait.

The contract includes the supply of MASS launchers, integration and verification activities, as well as Rheinmetall’s Omnitrap decoy ammunition. The MASS systems order is valued in the low double-digit million-euro range, while the Omnitrap ammunition package represents a high single-digit million-euro value. The total contract value was booked in the second quarter of 2026.

Delivery is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2026 and will continue for three years, with completion planned for the second quarter of 2029.

Rheinmetall will provide the systems for Kuwait’s Al Dorra-class guided-missile boats, which are being built as part of the country’s largest naval shipbuilding programme in more than 15 years.

The versatile stealth patrol vessels are being constructed by Abu Dhabi Shipbuilding on behalf of UAE-based EDGE Group, which is acting as the prime contractor.

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Vessels

Rheinmetall’s latest-generation Omnitrap-ER decoy ammunition features an extended range and improved trajectory, enabling more accurate deployment against advanced threats equipped with imaging radar and infrared guidance systems.

MASS is designed to enhance vessel survivability by providing protection against a wide range of threats, including anti-ship missiles and laser-guided weapons. The system deploys multispectral decoys covering radar, ultraviolet, electro-optical, laser and infrared threat bands from a single launcher platform, according to Rheinmetall.

The modular architecture of MASS enables installation on vessels ranging from offshore patrol vessels to frigates. The system can be integrated with existing command and weapon control systems with minimal modifications or operated as a standalone defensive solution, it was concluded.