South Korea Completes Upgrade of Navy Anti-Missile Decoy System

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced on Thursday, May 8, that it has completed a performance upgrade of the Multi Ammunition Soft Kill System (MASS), a key anti-missile decoy system operated by the South Korean Navy.

The MASS system, first deployed in 2014, protects ships from incoming anti-ship guided missiles by launching decoys that create a large smoke screen, mimicking ship signals to confuse enemy targeting systems. The upgrade comes as new missile technologies have emerged, featuring advanced seeker capabilities designed to differentiate between real ships and decoys by analyzing radio reflection characteristics.

The performance boost was carried out under the Current Force Performance Maximization Project. As part of the upgrade, the MASS now includes an Offboard Corner Reflector (OCR) launcher — a system capable of deploying corner reflectors to simulate irregular radio signals, especially from the corners of ships where reflections are typically high. This addition helps counter the latest generation of anti-ship guided missiles.

Moreover, the system’s software has been improved to better integrate target management, engagement, and weapons control with the Navy’s existing combat systems. According to DAPA, the upgraded MASS has passed performance tests during live sea trials.