MASS allows navies to conduct training anywhere they may be at sea.

This limits down-time and reduces overall costs as personnel do not have to travel to a specific location, which requires additional time, effort, fuel, and logistics. Prior to the development of the MASS System, navies had to travel to a land-based target range, which can pose a risk to inhabitants in the area.

Portable Naval Surface

Our MASS System is a portable naval surface gunfire simulation and training solution. Transferrable and free-floating, our systems address the issue of transportability, allowing for gunnery exercises to be positioned anywhere. Mass is also a more environmentally friendly option, as training can be conducted with non-detonating shells.

What our clients are saying

“MASS was an easy system for our team to use. Easy to deploy and recover.”

“MASS significantly reduced travel time for our group for training. Looking forward to using the system again during the deployment.”

“The support we received during our deployment from the Tech Team at MetOcean was top-tier!”

The Maritime Acoustic Scoring and Simulation (MASS) system is a waterborne, portable, ship-deployable/recoverable range and training tool. MASS scores and analyzes live-fire surface gunnery exercises, air-to-ground weapons exercises, and other test and evaluation events.

The MASS concept is based on the recognition that a projectile will generate a detectable acoustic event when it impacts water. The characteristics of this type of acoustic event can be detected and accurately located with an in-water array of acoustic sensors and digital signal processing technology.

The MASS system consists of acoustic sensors, which are incorporated into six sensor buoys. When an acoustic event occurs the buoys triangulate the location of impact. Global-Positioning Satellite (GPS) and receivers provide precise positioning data of the buoys and firing platforms.  Upon impact detection, the buoys transmit data via the secure Iridium satellite network to the system controller unit located on the supporting platform. The system controller calculates and displays the projectile’s impact location in real-time allowing immediate feedback to the firing platform.

MASS is an essential and cost-effective solution for all active Navies, it permits Navies to conduct training activities at secure locations while deployed at sea. MASS also eliminates costly travel time, personnel resources, and excessive fuel costs which are necessary when traveling and utilizing land-ranges.  In addition to the various costs saving advantages of the system, MASS also minimizes the human and environmental risks associated with land-ranges.

  • Automatic Scoring and Assessment
  • Reduced Mission Costs
  • Improved training accuracy
  • Portable

System Components

  • Vessel base station comprising of standard laptop computer and radio transceiver
  • Vessel-based radio repeater
  • Buoy operating array, typically 6 units
  • Each buoy equipped with GPS, radio, hydrophone, radar reflector and flashing warning beacon

Buoy System Specifications

  • RF range: At least 20,000 m line of sight, maximum depending on conditions and repeater height, 900 MHz spread spectrum radio, 1 watt RF power
  • Buoy GPS self-location accuracy: Less than 10 m 99% of locations. Less than 1 m for 1 standard deviation
  • Buoy accuracy for a reported time of arrival of an acoustic event: 150 microseconds (equivalent to a spatial resolution of 23 cm)
  • Acoustic event detection range: At least 5,000 m in open ocean (low sea state conditions)
  • Buoy acoustic projector range: Maximum 2,000 m
  • Active operating time: 72 hours with fully charged battery pack
  • Flotation collar: Diameter 61 cm, depth 20 cm. Materials: ionomer foam. Colour: Yellow
  • Hull: Diameter 15 cm, length 120 cm. Materials: stainless steel. Weight: 36 kg
  • Antenna mast: Diameter maximum 5 cm, length 390 cm.
  • Materials: marine grade aluminum and stainless steel. Colour: White. Weight: 3.1 kg
  • Hydrophone: Diameter 14 cm and suspension cable, length 6.6 m.
    Materials: piezoelectric ceramic. Colour: Black. Weight: 10.5 kg in protective cage

Contact us to learn more.

+1 902 468 2505

sales@metocean.com