Phalanx CIWS

Phalanx CIWS
Name	Phalanx CIWS
Caption	A Phalanx CIWS aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.
Type	Close-in weapon system
Origin	United States
Service	1980–present
Used by	United States Navy, Royal Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Republic of Korea Navy
Designer	General Dynamics
Manufacturer	Raytheon
Number	1,000+
Weight	13,600 lb (6,200 kg)
Length	15.5 ft (4.7 m)
Width	10.3 ft (3.1 m)
Height	15.9 ft (4.8 m)
Crew	Automated
Cartridge	20×102 mm
Caliber	20 mm
Action	Gatling gun
Rate	4,500 rounds/min
Velocity	3,600 ft/s (1,100 m/s)
Range	3,600 m
Max range	5,000 m
Feed	1,550-round magazine
Sights	Ku band radar and FLIR

Phalanx CIWS. It is a rapid-fire, computer-controlled, radar-guided Gatling gun system designed as a last-ditch defense for surface combatants against incoming threats like anti-ship missiles and aircraft. Developed by General Dynamics and later produced by Raytheon, it entered service with the United States Navy in 1980 and has been widely adopted by allied navies worldwide. The system operates autonomously, performing search, detection, threat evaluation, tracking, and engagement functions to destroy targets that penetrate a ship's outer defenses.

Overview

The system provides an inner layer of point-defense for warships, complementing longer-range systems like the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow and RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile. Its primary mission is to engage low-flying, high-speed threats such as the P-15 Termit or Exocet missiles that have evaded other countermeasures. Installed on a diverse array of vessels, from aircraft carriers like the USS Nimitz to destroyers and amphibious assault ships, it represents a critical component of a layered fleet defense strategy. The iconic appearance of its radome-enclosed assembly is a common sight on modern United States Navy and allied fleet units.

Development and history

The need for such a system became acutely apparent after the 1967 sinking of the INS Eilat by P-15 Termit missiles, highlighting the vulnerability of ships to anti-ship missiles. The United States Navy initiated development in the late 1960s, with General Dynamics winning the contract. Key testing, including against QF-86 Sabre drones, proved the concept, leading to initial operational capability aboard the USS Coral Sea in 1980. The program faced early challenges with reliability and electronic countermeasures, but continuous upgrades through projects like the "Block 1" improvement program significantly enhanced its performance against evolving threats like the SS-N-22 Sunburn.

Design and operation

The system integrates a M61 Vulcan-derived Gatling gun, a closed-loop fire-control system, and separate search and tracking radars operating in the Ku band. The search radar, mounted in the upper radome, scans for potential threats, while the lower tracking radar follows and illuminates the designated target. This combination allows for autonomous, "hands-off" operation from detection to destruction. The system uses specialized 20 mm caliber ammunition, including armor-piercing rounds with a depleted uranium core, fired from a 1,550-round magazine. Engagement sequences are extremely rapid, with the system capable of destroying a target in close proximity, though resulting in unavoidable fallout of shell fragments and debris.

Variants

The primary land-based variant is the C-RAM system, deployed by the United States Army to protect forward operating bases like Camp Victory from rocket artillery and mortar threats. The Block 1B upgrade, introduced in the 1990s, added an integrated Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) sensor and a stabilized gun for engaging surface targets such as fast attack craft. For international customers, variants like the Mk 15 Mod 2 were developed, with specific configurations for the Royal Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. The latest evolution is the SeaRAM system, which replaces the gun with an 11-cell launcher for the RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile.

Operational service

It has seen extensive service across multiple global conflicts and navies. During the Tanker War phase of the Iran–Iraq War, it was used to defend Kuwaiti tankers reflagged under the United States in Operation Earnest Will. In the 1991 Gulf War, it successfully engaged Iraqi Silkworm missiles and was involved in the tragic downing of Iran Air Flight 655. The system is a standard fit on major United States Navy classes, including the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and the new Zumwalt-class destroyer. Allied operators include the Royal Australian Navy, the Republic of Korea Navy, and the Turkish Naval Forces.

Specifications

The system weighs approximately 13,600 pounds and is powered by a dedicated gas turbine generating 60 kW. Its M61A1 gun fires 20×102 mm ammunition at a cyclic rate of 4,500 rounds per minute, with a muzzle velocity of 1,100 meters per second. The effective range is roughly 1,500 meters, with a maximum range against surface targets of 3,600 meters. The search and tracking radars operate in the Ku band (15.5 to 17 GHz), providing high-resolution tracking. The system requires a crew of three for maintenance and reloading but operates fully autonomously in combat.

Category:Naval weapons of the United States Category:Close-in weapon systems Category:Cannon