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The Meroka CIWS is a Spanish Navy 12 barrelled 20 mm close-in weapon system (CIWS), using twelve Oerlikon 20 mm/12 guns mounted in 2 rows of 6 guns each.[1][2] The system's primary purpose is defence against anti-ship missiles, and other precision guided weapons. However, it can also be employed against aircraft, watercraft, coastal targets, and floating mines. The weapon is mounted primarily on Spanish naval vessels, from frigate size upwards.
In the early to mid-2000s, the system and the logistics chain ceased to be in service, the weapons remained installed on the ships due to the cost of dismantling them. At present (2024), these weapons can be seen not in use on the Santa María class units, with the exception of the F-86 Frigate Canarias, in which it was replaced by an anti-drone system in 2023.
The term MeRoKa (from German Mehrrohrkanone, meaning multi-barrelled gun) can refer to weapons such as the Nordenfelt gun but is more commonly used referring to this naval CIWS defence system. The "Meroka" was developed and produced by the Spanish firm FABA Sistemas (Fábrica de Artillería Bazán).