Muss – The Invisible Shield of the Tank

HENSOLDT group core competence has been to recognise a wide range of threats and to provide practical and optimal solutions to improve the safety and operational effectiveness of military platforms. HENSoLDT’s MuSS (Multi-functional Self-protection System) has been the endeavour in the same direction - protecting armoured vehicle while maintaining manoeuvrability with no collateral damages.

THE BATTLE TANK, OR the Armoured Fighting Vehicle, ever since it made its first appearance on the Battlefield of Somme in 1916, has retained its pre-eminent position as the primary means to carry the battle to the enemy and deliver the decisive edge in a land-based engagement between Armed Forces. The appearance of tanks led to the development of anti-tank munitions. In the early stages of this race, the only protection against new munitions was to enhance armour thickness which increased the weight and decreased the mobility of the AFV. This method was not practically effective against defeating Munitions like High-explosive Anti-tank (HEAT) rounds or Explosively Formed Penetrators (EFPs). This led to next level of evolution of passive protection viz use of better performing, lighter alternatives to Steel, like Composites and the deployment of ‘add on’ armour as spaced armour, explosive reactive armour.