| Phalanx CIWS | |
|---|---|
 Phalanx CIWS aboard the formerUSS Elrod (FFG-55) in 2019. | |
| Type | Close-in weapon system |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1980–present |
| Used by | Seeoperators |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Designer | General Dynamics |
| Designed | 1969 |
| Manufacturer | General Dynamics |
| Unit cost |
|
| Produced | 1978[2] |
| Variants | 3 |
| Specifications (early models) | |
| Mass |
|
| Barrel length | 59.8 in (1,520 mm) L76 gun (Block 0 & 1):[2] |
| Height | 15.5 ft (4.7 m) |
| Shell | 20×102 mm tungstenarmor-piercing discarding sabot (CIWS) orhigh-explosive incendiarytracer (C-RAM) |
| Caliber | 20 mm (0.79 in) |
| Barrels | 6-barrel (progressive RH parabolic twist, 9 grooves) |
| Elevation |
|
| Traverse | 150° from either side of centerline |
| Rate of fire | 4,500 rounds/minute (75 rounds/second) |
| Muzzle velocity | 3,600 ft/s (1,100 m/s)[2] |
| Effective firing range | 1,625 yd (1,486 m) max. effective range[2] |
| Maximum firing range | 6,000 yd (5,500 m)[2] |
ThePhalanx CIWS (SEE-wiz) is an automated gun-basedclose-in weapon system to defend military watercraft automatically against incoming threats such as aircraft,missiles, and small boats. It was designed and manufactured by theGeneral Dynamics Corporation, Pomona Division,[3] later a part ofRaytheon. Consisting of a radar-guided 20 mm (0.8 in)Vulcan cannon mounted on a swiveling base, the Phalanx has been used by theUnited States Navy and the naval forces of 15 other countries. The U.S. Navy deploys it on every class of surface combat ship, except theZumwalt-classdestroyer andSan Antonio-classamphibious transport dock.[5] Other users include the BritishRoyal Navy, theRoyal Australian Navy, theRoyal New Zealand Navy, theRoyal Canadian Navy, and theU.S. Coast Guard.
A land variant, the LPWS (Land Phalanx Weapon System), part of theCounter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (C-RAM) system, was developed.[6] It was deployed to counterrocket,artillery andmortar attacks during the2021 US withdrawal from Afghanistan.[7][8] The U.S. Navy also fields theSeaRAM system, which pairs theRIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile with sensors based on the Phalanx.
The Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) was developed as the last line of automated weapons defense (terminal defense or point defense) against all incoming threats, including antiship missiles (AShMs or ASMs), aircraft including high-g and maneuvering sea-skimmers, and small boats.
The first prototype system was offered to the U.S. Navy for evaluation on thedestroyer leaderUSS King in 1973 and it was determined that further work was required to improve performance and reliability. Subsequently, the Phalanx Operational Suitability Model successfully completed its Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) on board thedestroyerUSS Bigelow in 1977.[2] The model exceeded operational maintenance, reliability, and availability specifications. Another evaluation successfully followed, and the weapon system was approved for production in 1978. Phalanx production started with orders for 23 USN and 14 foreign military systems. The first ship fully fitted out was theaircraft carrierUSS Coral Sea in 1980. The Navy began placing CIWS systems on non-combatant vessels in 1984.
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_from_the_guided-missile_destroyer_USS_Mitscher_(DDG_57)_impact.jpg)
The basis of the system is the 20 mmM61 Vulcanrotary cannon, used by the United States military on various tactical aircraft since 1959, linked to aKu bandfire control radar system for acquiring and tracking targets. This proven system was combined with a purpose-made mounting, capable of fast elevation and traverse speeds, to track incoming targets. An entirely self-contained unit, the mounting houses the gun, an automatedfire-control system and all other major components, enabling it to automatically search for, detect, track, engage, and confirm kills using its computer-controlled radar system. Owing to this self-contained nature, Phalanx is ideal for support ships, which lack integrated targeting systems and generally have limited sensors. The entire unit has a mass between 12,400 to 13,500 lb (5,600 to 6,100 kg).[citation needed]
Because of their distinctive barrel-shapedradome and their automated operation, Phalanx CIWS units are sometimes nicknamed "R2-D2" after thedroid from theStar Wars films.[9][10]
The Phalanx system has been developed through several configurations. The basic (original) is the Block 0, equipped with first-generation, solid-state electronics and with marginal capability against surface targets. The Block 1 (1988) upgrade improved radar, ammunition, computing power, rate of fire, and an increase in maximum engagement elevation to +70 degrees. These improvements were intended to increase the system's capability against emerging Russian supersonic anti-ship missiles. Block 1A introduced a new computer system to counter more maneuverable targets. The Block 1B PSuM (Phalanx Surface Mode, 1999) adds aforward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor to make the weapon effective against surface targets.[11] This addition was developed to provide ship defense against small vessel threats and other "floaters" inlittoral waters and to improve the weapon's performance against slower low-flying aircraft. The FLIR's capability is also of use against low-observability missiles and can be linked with theRIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) system to increase RAM engagement range and accuracy. The Block 1B also allows for an operator to visually identify and target threats.[11]
Since the end of FY 2015, the US Navy has upgraded all Phalanx systems to the Block 1B variant. In addition to the FLIR sensor, the Block 1B incorporates an automatic acquisition video tracker, optimized gun barrels (OGB), and Enhanced Lethality Cartridges (ELC) for additional capabilities against asymmetric threats such as small maneuvering surface craft, slow-flying fixed and rotary-winged aircraft, andunmanned aerial vehicles. The FLIR sensor improves performance against anti-ship cruise missiles, while the OGB and ELC provide tighter dispersion and increased "first-hit" range; the Mk 244 ELC is specifically designed to penetrate anti-ship missiles with a 48 percent heavier tungsten penetrator round and an aluminum nose piece. Another system upgrade is the Phalanx 1B Baseline 2 radar to improve detection performance, increase reliability, and reduce maintenance. It also has a surface mode to track, detect, and destroy threats closer to the water's surface, increasing the ability to defend against fast-attack boats and low-flying missiles. As of 2019, the Baseline 2 radar upgrade has been installed on all U.S. Navy Phalanx system-equipped vessels.[12] The Block 1B is also used by other navies, such asCanada,Portugal,Japan,Egypt,Bahrain, and theUK.[13]
In April 2017, Raytheon tested a new electric gun for the Phalanx allowing the system to fire at varying rates to conserve ammunition. The new design replaces the pneumatic motor, compressor, and storage tanks, reducing system weight by 180 lb (82 kg) while increasing reliability and reducing operating costs.[14]
The CIWS is designed to be the last line of defense against anti-ship missiles. Due to its design criteria, its effective range is very short relative to the range of modern ASMs, from 1 to 5 nautical miles (2 to 9 km). The gun mount moves at a very high speed and with great precision. The system takes minimal inputs from the ship, making it capable of functioning despite potential damage to the ship.
The only inputs required for operation are 440 VACthree-phase electric power at 60 Hz and water (for electronics cooling). For full operation, including some nonessential functions, it also has inputs for ship's true compass heading and 115 V AC for the WinPASS subsystem. WinPASS (Windows-based Parameter Analysis and Storage Subsystem) is a secondary computer built into the local control station that allows technicians to perform various tests on system hardware and software for maintenance and troubleshooting purposes. It also stores data from any engagements the system conducts so that it can later be analyzed.[citation needed]
The CIWS has two antennas that work together to engage targets. The first antenna, for searching, is located inside the radome on the weapon control group (top of the white-painted portion). The search subsystem provides bearing, range, velocity, heading, and altitude information of potential targets to the CIWS computer. This information is analyzed to determine whether the detected object should be engaged by the CIWS system. Once the computer identifies a valid target (see details below), the mount moves to face the target and then hands the target over to the tracking antenna at around 4.5 nautical miles (8 km). The track antenna is extremely precise, but views a much smaller area. The tracking subsystem observes the target until the computer determines that the probability of a successful hit is maximized and then, depending on the operator conditions, the system either fires automatically at around 1 nautical mile (2 km) or recommends fire to the operator. While firing 75 rounds per second, the system tracks outgoing rounds and 'walks' them onto the target.[15]
The Block 0 CIWS mounts (hydraulic driven) fired at a rate of 3,000 rounds per minute and held 989 rounds in the magazine drum.[3] The Block 1 CIWS mounts (hydraulic) also fired at 3,000 rounds per minute with an extended magazine drum holding 1,550 rounds. The Block 1A and newer (pneumatic driven) CIWS mounts fire at a rate of 4,500 rounds per minute with a 1,550-round magazine. The velocity of the rounds fired is about 3,600 feet per second (1,100 m/s). The rounds arearmor-piercingtungsten penetrator rounds ordepleted uranium with discardable plasticsabots. The Phalanx CIWS 20 mm rounds are designed to destroy a missile's airframe and make it non-aerodynamic, thus keeping shrapnel from the exploding projectile to a minimum, effectively keeping secondary damage to a minimum. The ammunition handling system has two conveyor belt systems. The first takes the rounds out of the magazine drum to the gun; the second takes empty shells or unfired rounds to the opposite end of the drum.
The 20 mm APDS rounds consist of a 15 mm (0.59 in) penetrator encased in a plastic sabot and a lightweight metal pusher.[16] Rounds fired by the Phalanx cost around $30 each and the gun typically fires 100 or more when engaging a target.[citation needed]
The CIWS does not recognizeidentification friend or foe, also known as IFF. The CIWS has only the data it collects in real time from the radars to decide if the target is a threat and to engage it. A contact must meet multiple criteria for the CIWS to consider it a target.[citation needed] These criteria include:
There are many other subsystems that together ensure proper operation, such as environmental control, transmitter, mount movement control, power control and distribution, and so on. It takes six to eight months to train a technician to maintain, operate, and repair the CIWS.[citation needed]
On 10 February 1983,USS Antrim was conducting a live-fire exercise off the East Coast of the United States using the Phalanx against a target drone. Although the drone was successfully engaged at close range, the debris of the destroyed target bounced off the sea surface and struck the ship, causing significant damage and fire from the drone's residual fuel and killing a civilian instructor aboard the ship.
On 13 October 1989,USS El Paso was conducting a live-fire exercise off the East Coast of the United States using the Phalanx against a target drone. The drone was successfully engaged, but as the drone fell to the sea, the CIWS re-engaged it as a continued threat toEl Paso. Rounds from the Phalanx struck thebridge ofUSS Iwo Jima, killing one officer and injuring a petty officer.[17]
On 17 May 1987, during theIran–Iraq War, which the US was observing as a non-combatant, an IraqiDassault Mirage F1 fighter[18] fired twoExocet missiles at what was deemed to be a suitable target, but was the AmericanfrigateUSS Stark.
The Phalanx CIWS remained in standby mode and theMark 36 SRBOC countermeasures were not armed, as no attack had been expected. Both missiles struck theport side of the ship near the bridge. 37 United States Navy personnel were killed and 21 wounded.Iraq apologized and paid compensation for this unintentional attack.[19]
On 25 February 1991, during the firstGulf War, the Phalanx-equippedfrigateUSS Jarrett was a few miles from the U.S. NavybattleshipUSS Missouri and theRoyal Navy destroyerHMS Gloucester. An Iraqi missile battery fired twoSilkworm anti-ship missiles (often referred to as theSeersucker);Missouri responded by firing itsSRBOCchaff countermeasures. The Phalanx system onJarrett, operating in automatic target-acquisition mode, fixed onMissouri's chaff and fired a burst of rounds, of which four hitMissouri, 2 to 3 nautical miles (4 to 6 km) fromJarrett at the time. There were no injuries onMissouri, and the Iraqi missiles were destroyed bySea Dart missiles fired byGloucester.[20]
On May 5, 1994, the port side Phalanx on board theUSSLake Erie accidentally fired two depleted uranium rounds while the ship was at its berth atPearl Harbor, Hawaii. Sailors were conducting a firing circuit test as part of routine maintenance on the CIWS system at the time. AJudge Advocate General investigation concluded that required CIWS pre and post-firing inspections had not been properly conducted and the rounds had gone undetected in the ammunition drive. It is believed by the Navy that the rounds fell in an undeveloped mountainous area nearAiea, HI. There were no reports of any injuries or property damage as a result of the accidental discharge.[21][22][23]
_Phalanx_CIWS.jpg)
On 4 June 1996, a Phalanx operated by the JMSDF accidentally shot down a USA-6 Intruder from the aircraft carrierUSS Independence that was towing a radar target during gunnery exercises about 1,500 mi (2,400 km) west of the main Hawaiian island ofOahu. TheAsagiri-class destroyerJDS Yūgiri locked onto the Intruder instead of the target, or tracked up the tow cable after acquiring the towed target. The aircraft's two-man crew ejected safely.[24] A post-accident investigation concluded thatYūgiri's gunnery officer gave the order to fire before the A-6 was out of the CIWS engagement envelope.[25][26]
On 30 January 2024,Houthis fired an anti-ship cruise missile toward theRed Sea. The missile came within a mile of theArleigh Burke-class destroyerUSSGravely. The Phalanx CIWS aboardGravely was used to shoot down the missile. This was the first time the Phalanx CIWS was used to down a Houthi-fired missile.[27] No damage or injuries were reported.[28][29]
Seeking a solution to continual rocket and mortar attacks on bases in Iraq, theU.S. Army requested a quick-to-field antiprojectile system in May 2004, as part of itsCounter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar initiative.[30] The result of this program was the "Centurion". For all intents and purposes a terrestrial version of the Navy's CIWS, the Centurion was rapidly developed,[31] with a proof-of-concept test in November that same year. Deployment to Iraq began in 2005,[30][32] where it was set up to protectforward operating bases and other high-value sites in and around the capital,Baghdad.[33] Israel purchased a single system for testing purposes, and was reported[34] to have considered buying the system to counter rocket attacks and defend point military installations. However, the swift and effective development and performance of Israel's indigenousIron dome system has ruled out any purchase or deployment of Centurion.Each system consists of a modified Phalanx 1B CIWS, powered by an attached generator and mounted on a trailer for mobility. Including the same20 mm M61A1 Gatling gun, the unit is likewise capable of firing 4,500 20 mm rounds per minute.[6][35] In 2008, there were more than 20 C-RAM systems protecting bases in the U.S. Central Command area of operations. A Raytheon spokesman told theNavy Times that 105 attacks were defeated by the systems, most of them involving mortars. Based on the success of Centurion, 23 additional systems were ordered in September 2008.[36]
Like the naval (1B) version, Centurion uses Ku-band radar andFLIR[37][38] to detect and track incoming projectiles, and is also capable of engaging surface targets, with the system able to reach a minus-25-degree elevation.[37] The Centurion is reportedly capable of defending a 0.5 sq mi (1.3 km2) area.[39] One major difference between the land- and sea-based variants is the choice of ammunition. Whereas naval Phalanx systems fire tungsten armor-piercing rounds, the C-RAM uses the 20 mm HEIT-SD (High-Explosive IncendiaryTracer, Self-Destruct) ammunition, originally developed for theM163 Vulcan Air Defense System.[31][40] These rounds explode if they impact a target, but if they miss they self-destruct on tracer burnout, greatly reducing the risk of collateral damage from misses.[31][40]
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Taiwan (13 sets MK15 Phalanx Block 1B Baseline 2, 8 set is for upgrading the current Block 0 to MK15 Phalanx Block 1B Baseline 2, total cost: 0.416B with 260K MK 244 MOD 0 armor piercing bullet, Baseline2 is the newest model in Block 1B on 11/2016)[41][1]
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