Phalanx CIWS

TECHNOLOGY

“ The central computer can instantly calculate the probability of the Phalanx taking a target out”

The missile killer Phalanx CIWS 1A/B The statistics… Height: 4.7m (15.4ft) The Phalanx CIWS is one of the most advanced and Weight: 6,200kg (13,600lb) Elevation: -25° to 85° brutal gun turrets on the planet – find out why now Gun: 1 x 20mm (0.8in) M61 Vulcan autocannon The Phalanx is a close-in weapon system (CIWS) – a largely defensive piece of kit designed to shoot down The major elements of a machine that’s handy to have around when under fire How the Phalanx works Muzzle velocity: 1,100m/s (3,609ft/s) Max burst rate: 1,000 rounds Ammunition capacity: incoming anti-ship missiles. The Phalanx is 1,550 rounds arguably the most cutting-edge CIWS currently Radar Radar: Ku-Band around, sporting a powerful 20-millimetre A tubular radome encases the Ku-Band Cost: £22.6m ($35m) (0.8-inch) M61 Vulcan autocannon, advanced search and gun-laying radar. The search dual-antenna Ku-band radar array and huge antenna sweeps for threats, and when a target is confirmed as hostile, the 1,550-round munitions drum. gun-laying antenna locks on to it.

The Phalanx is mounted to a variety of vessels in the US Navy, where it is tasked with Gun defending every class of surface combat ship. Damage is dealt with a 20mm (0.8in) M61 Vulcan autocannon, which has a muzzle This defence comes courtesy of thousands of velocity of 1,100m/s (3,609ft/s) and an armour-piercing tungsten and depleted effective range of up to 3.6km (2.2mi). uranium rounds, which are projected from the The cannon fires armour-piercing tungsten/depleted uranium rounds. Power autocannon at 1,100 metres (3,610 feet) per The Phalanx has its very second. For perspective, that’s the equivalent of own independent 440V travelling the length of Manchester United’s AC power supply that runs at 60Hz, as well as football pitch about ten times in a second! dedicated water reserve The rounds’ trajectories are dictated by a built-in fire control system. This central Drum Ammunition for the M61 Vulcan for systems cooling. This allows it to operate should the host vessel computer can instantly calculate the comes courtesy of a large magazine have a power cut. probability of the Phalanx taking a target out, drum. This ammunition dispenser as well as what fire rate and pattern is needed. can hold 1,550 rounds at any one time and can feed the cannon at a The control system is fed data from the two rate of 4,500 rounds per minute. antennas of the Ku-Band radar, with a wide aperture search antenna picking up incoming Computer A central fire control computer is threats, and a gun-laying antenna taking care responsible for deciphering of the fine, narrow aperture object targeting. data received from the

In addition to providing defence against radar and sensors, as well as determining incoming missiles and shells, the Phalanx can hit chances and firing also operate against more traditional targets – patterns. It can such as small surface vessels – thanks to the operate on full-auto or manual settings. inclusion of a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor. This tech detects infrared radiation – ie heat signatures – and helps the Phalanx deal out massive damage to enemy ships.

Sensors

Certain Phalanx systems come installed with forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensors to detect surface vessels and approaching missiles.

Mount

The mount contains the power supply, fire control system, plus hydraulic and pneumatic mechanisms. The cannon rotates at high speed on a circular base in order to face any incoming threat.

How does the Phalanx stack up to the competition?

AK-630

The Russian equivalent of the Phalanx, the AK-630 is a naval close-in weapon system that boasts a six-barrelled 30mm (1.2in) Gatling cannon capable of firing 10,000 rounds per minute.

Goalkeeper

The Dutch counterpart of the Phalanx, the Goalkeeper is designed to shoot down missiles and ballistic shells. It sports a 30mm (1.2in), seven-barrelled cannon with a muzzle velocity of 1,109m/s (3,638ft/s).

DARDO

The Italian-made DARDO (which translates as ‘dart’) is a close-in weapon system equipped with two massive Bofors 40mm (1.6in) highexplosive shell firing autocannons.