MUltifunctional Self protection System (MUSS, German: ''Multifunktionales Selbstschutz-System'') is a soft kill

active protection system An active protection system is a system designed to actively prevent certain anti-tank weapons from destroying a vehicle. Countermeasures that either conceal the vehicle from, or disrupt the guidance of an incoming guided missile threat are desig ...

developed to protect military vehicles against guided

anti-tank missile An anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), anti-tank missile, anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW) or anti-armor guided weapon is a guided missile primarily designed to hit and destroy heavily armored military vehicles. ATGMs range in size from shoulder ...

s.EADS.com press releas
"EADS-Technologie schützt Panzerfahrzeuge Neues System für Selbstschutz vorgestellt"
(German)

History

MUSS was developed by

EADS Airbus SE (; ; ; ) is a European multinational aerospace corporation. Airbus designs, manufactures and sells civil and military aerospace products worldwide and manufactures aircraft throughout the world. The company has three divisions: '' ...

, Buck (a

Rheinmetall Rheinmetall AG is a German automotive and arms manufacturer, headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG),, is a country in Central Europe. It is the most populous member state of ...

subsidiary) and

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG (KMW) is an arms industry company based in Munich, Germany. The company produces various types of equipment as well as rail locomotives, tanks, self-propelled artillery, and other armoured vehicles. KMW was ...

(KMW). Before September 2003, it was tested on a

Leopard 2 The Leopard 2 is a 3rd generation main battle tank originally developed by Krauss-Maffei in the 1970s for the West German army. The tank first entered service in 1979 and succeeded the earlier Leopard 1 as the main battle tank of the West G ...

tank by the

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung. The new German Puma

infantry fighting vehicle An infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), also known as a mechanized infantry combat vehicle (MICV), is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carry infantry into battle and provide direct-fire support. The 1990 Treaty on Conventional Armed For ...

will be equipped with MUSS, after EADS was awarded a contract in 2006.Army-technology.co
"Puma"
/ref> In July 2016, the UK's

Defence Science and Technology Laboratory The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is an executive agency of the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom. Its stated purpose is "to maximise the impact of science and technology for the defence and security of the UK". The a ...

placed a £7.6 million contract with QinetiQ to evaluate the MUSS system for armoured vehicles, particularly the

Challenger 2 The FV4034 Challenger 2 (MOD designation "CR2") is a third generation British main battle tank (MBT) in service with the armies of the United Kingdom and Oman. It was designed and built by the British company Vickers Defence Systems (now known ...

Design

MUSS consists of three main elements: ultraviolet sensors, consisting of a laser warner and a missile warner which detects incoming projectile, the computer, and the electronic or pyrotechnic countermeasures (for example an infrared jamming device). When the sensors detect an incoming missile or a laser beam aimed at the vehicle, the computer activates the countermeasures. MUSS offers 360° protection with elevation up to 70° and can handle up to four threats at once. The whole system has a weight of 65 to 160 kg.Defense-Update
"Multifunction Self Protection System"

References

External links

"Hensoldt"
{{APS Weapons countermeasures Land active protection systems Armoured fighting vehicle equipment Military equipment introduced in the 2000s