Phalanx CIWS: The Last Defense, On Ship and Ashore
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Asia - Central, Australia & S. Pacific, Contracts - Awards, FOCUS Articles, Guns - 20-59 mm direct, New Systems Tech, Northrop-Grumman, Other Corporation, Protective Systems - Naval, Raytheon, Support & Maintenance, Warfare - Trends
(click to view full)
The radar-guided, rapid-firing Mk. 15 Phalanx Close-In Weapons System (CIWS, pron. “see-whiz”) can fire between 3,000-4,500 20mm cannon rounds per minute, either autonomously or under manual command, as a last-ditch defense against incoming missiles and other targets. Phalanx uses closed-loop spotting with advanced radar and computer technology to locate, identify and direct a stream of armor piercing projectiles toward the target (see video: MPEG | AVI, with hat tips to the good folks at Digg.com).
As of Feb 28/07, More than 895 Phalanx systems had been built and deployed in the navies of 22 nations. The latest development is C-RAM/Centurion, a land-based system designed to defend against incoming artillery and mortars.
This is DID’s FOCUS Article with respect to the Phalanx CIWS. Recent developments include a US Army buy for use on land, upgrades for New Zealand, and an engineering services contract for the USA and for a foreign customer…
- The Phalanx Platform: Competition, Upgrades & Developments [updated]
- Land-Based Phalanx: C-RAM
- Phalanx Contracts and Key Events [updated]
- Additional Readings
Continue Reading »
Get to our trove of Phalanx materials by becoming a subscriber now. You will immediately gain access to our up-to-date close-in weapons system coverage, as well as all the deep reference materials we offer on all other defense programs.
This Phalanx story, along with Defense Industry Insider's cross-referenced materials on related platforms, includes the following resources:
- 7 pictures including numerous photos of the ship platforms and land platforms. Also, the link to a video clip of the weapon in action against a ship-side incoming missile
- Coverage of the land-based C-RAM models
- A chronology of events, contracts, competitions, international interests, deployment plans in active theaters, subcontractors and other items of interest extending back to 2004
- Cross reference to systems of similar function and purpose, as well as alternative configurations and uses
- Deep program references on systems employing the Phalanx, such as Australia's Hobart Class ships, the National Security Cutters, FSF-1, Littoral Combat Ship, LHA-R, and many others
- Additional readings
You can get instant access to these materials ñ and all of our Defense Industry Insider content ñ by subscribing here.
