Phalanx CIWS

Phalanx CIWS
Phalanx CIWS aboard USS Elrod FFG-55.
TypeClose-in weapon system
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1980–present
Used bySee operators
WarsPersian Gulf War
Production history
DesignerGeneral Dynamics
Designed1969
ManufacturerGeneral Dynamics
Unit cost
  • 5 × Block 1B £8.56M each to UK
  • 9 × Block 1B US$13.66M each for SK
  • 13 × Mk 15 Block 1B Baseline 2 for TW, total cost: US$416M with 260,000 × Mk 244 Mod 0 armor-piercing bullet. 8 sets are for upgrading the current Block 0 to MK15 Phalanx Block 1B Baseline 2.[1]
Produced1978[2]
Variants3
Specifications (early models)
Mass
  • 12,500 lb (5,700 kg)[2]
Barrel length59.8 in (1,520 mm) L76 gun (Block 0 & 1): [2]
Height15.5 ft (4.7 m)

Shell20×102mm tungsten Armor-piercing discarding sabot or High-explosive incendiary tracer
Caliber20 mm (0.79 in)
Barrels6-barrel (progressive RH parabolic twist, 9 grooves)
Elevation
  • Block 0: −10°/+80°
  • Block 1: −20°/+80°
  • Block 1B: −25°/+85°
Traverse150° from either side of centerline
Rate of fire4,500 rounds/minute (75 rounds/second)
Muzzle velocity3,600 ft/s (1,100 m/s)[2]
Effective firing range1,625 yd (1,486 m) max. effective range[2]
Maximum firing range6,000 yd (5,500 m)[2]

The Phalanx CIWS (SEE-wiz) is an automated gun-based close-in weapon system to defend military watercraft automatically against incoming threats such as aircraft, missiles, and small boats. It was designed and manufactured by the General Dynamics Corporation, Pomona Division,[3] later a part of Raytheon. Consisting of a radar-guided 20 mm (0.8 in) Vulcan cannon mounted on a swiveling base, the Phalanx has been used by the United States Navy and the naval forces of 15 other countries. The U.S. Navy deploys it on every class of surface combat ship, except the Zumwalt-class destroyer and San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock.[5] Other users include the British Royal Navy, the Royal Australian Navy, the Royal New Zealand Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

A land variant, the LPWS (Land Phalanx Weapon System), part of the Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (C-RAM) system, was developed.[6] It was deployed to counter rocket, artillery and mortar attacks during the 2021 US withdrawal from Afghanistan.[7][8] The U.S. Navy also fields the SeaRAM system, which pairs the RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile with sensors based on the Phalanx.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference storm.mg was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference navweaps was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Thomas, Vincent C. The Almanac of Seapower 1987 Navy League of the United States (1987) ISBN 0-9610724-8-2 p.191
  4. ^ [1] Archived October 7, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "Amphibious Transport Dock". www.public.navy.mil. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014.
  6. ^ murdoc (20 March 2006). "Murdoc online March 20, 2006 CIWS now does surface targets, too". Murdoconline.net. Archived from the original on 12 April 2009.
  7. ^ Beinart, Matthew (30 August 2021). "U.S. Forces Use C-RAM To Take Out Rocket Aimed At Kabul Airport". Defense Daily.
  8. ^ Roblin, Sebastien. "Robotic Gatling Guns Repel ISIS-K Rocket Attack On Kabul Airport". Forbes. Retrieved 17 November 2021.