MUSS (countermeasure)

MUSS was developed by EADS, Buck (a Rheinmetall subsidiary) and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW). Before September 2003, it was tested on a Leopard 2 tank by the German . Hensoldt delivered the 300th MUSS active protection system to the German Army on 19 September 2019. A total of 342 MUSS systems were delivered by 2020. In July 2016, the UK's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory placed a £7.6 million contract with QinetiQ to evaluate the MUSS system for armoured vehicles, particularly the Challenger 2 main battle tank. ==MUSS==

MUSS consists of three main elements: the sensor units, detecting incoming threats, the computer unit for processing the informations and the countermeasures used to engage them. The sensors are called MUSS Sensor Heads (MSHs) by Hensoldt and operate completely passive. and utilize the PMILDS sensor, a variant of the AN/AAR-60 Missile Launch Detection System (MILDS) in combination with an additional laser warner. The MSH's missile warner detects missiles by spotting the missile plume in the ultraviolet spectrum to prevent possible interference from the sun. File:MUSS MJH.jpg|The MUSS Jammer Head mounted on top of a Puma IFV File:MUSS sensors on Puma IFV turret.JPG|Front and left MSHs on the turret of a Puma IFV File:AN-AAR-60 MILDS.jpg|A Tiger's AN/AAR-60 MILDS sensor. The MSH is derived from it File:MUSS sensor Puma IFV.jpg|Close-up of a MUSS Sensor Head ==MUSS 2.0==

In November 2021, Hensoldt announced the development of an improved version known as "MUSS 2.0". The development of MUSS 2.0 was commissioned by the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support and includes optimizations in regards to size and weight while improving the capabilities of the missile warners and laser detectors. MUSS 2.0 can also detect second-generation laser rangefinders, laser beam riding missiles such as Kornet and can act as hostile fire indicator. It is compliant to the NATO Generic Vehicle Architecture (NGVA). The sensor module uses a total of 120 MEMS microphones to detect the noises generated by the propellers of drones, determining azimuth and elevation to the drone. The sensor module is dodecagonal shaped like the base of the MUSS Jammer Head 2.0 and can be mounted below it. and the Boxer RCT30. It is being procured by the German Army on the second batch of Puma IFVs. KF-51U_03.jpg|KF51-U Panther with MUSS 2.0, Iron Fist and StrikeShield DSCN7330-crop_-_Copy.jpg|Boxer RCT30 with MUSS 2.0 == ODAEON ==

In February 2025, Hensoldt announced that it had been awarded a €17.6 million contract to develop the ODAEON optical detection system based on the MUSS 2.0 Jammer Head. It is being developed in cooperation with the BAAINBw. ODAEON automatically detects optics of enemy systems such as the surveillance optics of drones and the targeting systems of anti-tank systems. In later development steps, additional protective functions such as dazzling and jamming can be implemented. In the future, the it is planned to combine MUSS and ODAEON technologies into a single system. ==References==