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| Goalkeeper CIWS | |
|---|---|
 A Goalkeeper CIWS on a BritishInvincible-class aircraft carrier firing at a target | |
| Type | Close-in weapon system |
| Place of origin | Netherlands |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1980–present |
| Used by | Seeoperators |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Signaal (nowThales Nederland) |
| Designed | 1975[1] |
| Manufacturer | Thales Naval Netherlands |
| Produced | 1979[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 6,372 kg (14,048 lb) with 1,190 rds of ammunition (above deck); 9,902 kg (21,830 lb) (total). |
| Height | 3.71 m (above deck) 6.2 m (including deck penetration). |
| Crew | Automated, with human oversight |
| Shell | 30×173mm TP, HEI, MPDS, or FMPDS |
| Caliber | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Barrels | 7-barrel (progressive RH parabolic twist, 14 grooves) |
| Elevation | +85 to −25 degrees at 80 degree/s |
| Traverse | Unlimited |
| Rate of fire | 70 rounds/second (4,200 rounds/minute) |
| Muzzle velocity | 1,109 m/s (MPDS round) |
| Effective firing range | 350 to between 1,500 and 2,000 metres dependent on ammunition |
Main armament | 1 x 30 mm (1.2 in)GAU-8/A Avenger seven-barrelrotary cannon |
TheGoalkeeper CIWS is a Dutchclose-in weapon system (CIWS) introduced in 1979. It is an autonomous and completely automatic weapon system for short-range defence of ships against highly maneuverable missiles, aircraft and fast-maneuvering surface vessels. Once activated the system automatically undertakes the entire air defence process from surveillance and detection to destruction, including the selection of the next priority target.
Hollandse Signaalapparaten B.V., in short Hollandse Signaal or Signaal (nowThales Nederland) began work on the Goalkeeper in 1975, developing it around theGAU-8 gun. A prototype, the EX-83, was first demonstrated to theRoyal Netherlands Navy in 1979.
In 2012, the Dutch ministry of defense announced that the Goalkeeper systems in use by the Netherlands Navy will receive radar upgrades, mechanical improvements, new high-precisionfrangible ammunition and a new electro-optical tracking system. Also, the system's surface model will be improved to counter high-speed boats andfast attack craft. These upgrades will make the system more capable to defend ships against the latest threats such as modernanti-ship missiles, more effective in littoral environments and less vulnerable to malfunctions. It also expands the life of the system to at least 2025. The first of 16 systems will be upgraded and tested by Thales Nederland, the others at the naval base inDen Helder.[2] The upgrade has been named the Upkeep Modification.
The development of the Upkeep Modification did not go smoothly. The costs associated with the upgrade rose 700,000 euro above the planned budget in 2015, and led to a loss for Thales Nederland in that year.[3] Nonetheless, by 2016 the first upgrade was completed and placed aboard theHNLMSEvertsen for testing purposes. The newly upgraded Goalkeeper system brings numerous improvements and additions to the system, including new color and infrared cameras, a new control panel, new software and computers, and the ability to let several Goalkeeper systems work with each other simultaneously.[4]
In March 2018, the upgradedGoalkeeper CIWS passed the sea acceptance trial flawlessly. The Upkeep Modification is meant to bring the performance of the Goalkeeper system once again to the highest operational status, in correspondence with the Royal Netherlands Navy's ambition to optimally protect its crew and ships during overseas deployments.[5]
The Goalkeeper has two radar sub-systems, one to find threats and another to track and engage them, which operate together to identify and prioritise targets and engage the highest priority one.
The 2DI band search radar, which can handle up to 18 targets at once, generates a threat picture which the gun system uses to identify and prioritize threats. The system hasidentify friend or foe (IFF) functionality to rule out friendly traces.[6] The tracking radar operates in bothI band andK band to enable quick acquisition on the threat bearing. Data from both the I band and K band return signals indicate target range and can be used to identify, and respond to the use of,electronic countermeasures (ECM). The dual-band system also reduces the effect ofclutter, which can mask the target at low altitude. A camera system on the assembly provides a visual fall-back for the system operator.
TheGAU-8/A Avenger30 mm, also used by theA-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft, was selected for the system. The 30x173mm cartridge has a greater projectile mass than the 20x102mm cartridge fired by thePhalanx CIWSM61 Vulcan, so it provides much greater destructive power and significantly increased range with similar muzzle velocity.
The 30x173mm MPDS cartridge has a discarding nylon sleeve (sabot) with a 21 mm sub-calibretungsten penetrator. The nylon sabot provides a seal between penetrator and barrel and reduces wear.
The tracking radar is capable of monitoring the line of fire and commanding minor adjustments.
Supersonic missiles that are damaged may still have enough momentum to hit the ship—the only way to ensure the protection of the ship is either to detonate the warhead of the missile or obliterate the missile.
The system's reaction time to aMach 2sea-skimming missile such as the RussianSS-N-22 Sunburn from automatic detection to kill is reported to be 5.5 seconds with the firing synchronized to start the engagement at a range of 1,500 m and ending with a kill at 300 m.[6]
Goalkeeper's capabilities have been proven many times during sea-going trials. During live-fire exercises, many different targets includingHarpoons,Exocets andtarget drones were shot down by Goalkeeper. During anti-piracy operations off the coast ofSomalia the system destroyed several pirate boats andskiffs that had been seized by theRoyal Netherlands Navy.[7]
| Model |  Goalkeeper CIWS |  AK-630[8] | AK-630M1-2[9] |  Phalanx CIWS[10] |  DARDO[11] |  Type 730[12] | Type 1130[12] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 9,902 kg (21,830 lb) | 9,114 kg (20,093 lb) | 11,819 kg (26,056 lb) | 6,200 kg (13,700 lb) | 5,500 kg (12,100 lb) | 6,372 kg (14,048 lb) w/o ammo | 7,400 kg (16,300 lb) w/o ammo |
| Ammunition | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 20 mm (0.79 in) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Armament | 7-barreled GAU-8 Avenger Gatling gun | 6-barreled GSh-6-30 Gatling gun | 2 × 6-barreled GSh-6-30 Gatling gun | 6-barreled M61 Vulcan Gatling gun | 2-barreled Bofors 40 mm | 7-barreled H/PJ-12 Gatling gun | 11-barreled H/PJ-11 Gatling gun |
| Rate of fire | 4,200 rpm | 5,000 rpm | 10,000 rpm | 4,500 rpm | 600/900 rpm | 5,800 rpm | 11,000 rpm |
| Range (effective/ flat-trajectory) | 3,500 m (11,500 ft) | 4,000 m (13,000 ft) | 4,000 m (13,000 ft) | 2,600 m (8,500 ft) | 4,000 m (13,000 ft) | 5,000 m (16,000 ft) | 5,000 m (16,000 ft) |
| Ammunition storage (rounds) | 1,190 | 2,000 | 4,000 | 1,550 | 736 | 1,280 | 2,560 |
| Muzzle velocity | 1,109 m/s (3,640 ft/s) | 900 m/s (3,000 ft/s) | 900 m/s (3,000 ft/s) | 1,100 m/s (3,600 ft/s) | 1,000 m/s (3,300 ft/s) | 1,150 m/s (3,800 ft/s) | 1,150 m/s (3,800 ft/s) |
| Elevation | −25 to +85° | −12 to +88° | −12 to +88° | −25 to +85° | −13 to +85° | -25 to +85° | -25 to +85° |
| Traverse | 360° | 360° | 360° | -150° to +150° | 360° | 360° | 360° |
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Chile:Chilean Navy Netherlands:Royal Netherlands Navy
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