Global InformationPhalanx CIWS information
 | It has been suggested that Centurion C-RAM be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since March 2024. |
| Phalanx CIWS | |
|---|---|
 Phalanx CIWS aboard USS Jason Dunham. | |
| Type | Close-in weapon system |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1980–present |
| Used by | See operators |
| Wars | Persian Gulf War |
| 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 | 20×102mm tungsten Armor-piercing discarding sabot or High-explosive incendiary tracer |
| 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 | 3,000 rounds/minute (50 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] |
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.
- ^ Storm.mg (7 November 2016). "凱子軍購？海軍先斬後奏買方陣快砲 價格比英、韓貴1倍-風傳媒".
- ^ a b Thomas, Vincent C. The Almanac of Seapower 1987 Navy League of the United States (1987) ISBN 0-9610724-8-2 p.191
- ^ [1] Archived October 7, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Amphibious Transport Dock". www.public.navy.mil. Archived from the original on March 4, 2014.
- ^ murdoc (20 March 2006). "Murdoc online March 20, 2006 CIWS now does surface targets, too". Murdoconline.net. Archived from the original on April 12, 2009.
- ^ Beinart, Matthew (30 August 2021). "U.S. Forces Use C-RAM To Take Out Rocket Aimed At Kabul Airport". Defense Daily.
- ^ Roblin, Sebastien. "Robotic Gatling Guns Repel ISIS-K Rocket Attack On Kabul Airport". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-11-17.