Issued at the end of 2021, the order heralds the Swiss Army’s replacement of the Maske-C predecessor generation after a roughly 25-year service life with an up-to-date new product. An additional contract was concluded for conducting periodic test firing during the entire lifespan of the smoke/obscurant shells.

The Maske 76 is designed to be fired from tactical vehicles as a force protection measure. The Maske family is based on a bimodular, bispectral ammunition concept. It consists of two rapid reaction decoy modules that generate an intensive blooming effect using proven deception technologies. Moreover, a long-lasting decoy module employs visible and infrared smoke/obscurant to interrupt the enemy line of sight in the visual and infrared spectrum. This way, Maske smoke/obscurant cartridges provide armoured vehicles with effective protection against weapon systems with visual or infrared optical aiming systems, seekers, laser target illuminators and laser rangefinders.

Maske rapid smoke/obscurant cartridges come in a variety of different calibres. Only recently, Rheinmetall unveiled the latest Maske 81 version. It is compatible with all 81mm cal. smoke/obscurant dispensers and can be fired from existing legacy launchers. This makes the Maske 81mm especially attractive for users whose combat vehicles are equipped with former Warsaw Pact-type smoke/obscurant dispensers.