MK-16
CIWS
Unofficial
names/slang: CIWS (pronounced "sea-whiz"),
R2-D2
Function:
High speed, radar guided gatling gun designed as a
last line of defense against anti-ship missiles
Date
deployed: 1980 (USS CORAL SEA)
Contractor:
Raytheon
Unit cost:
unavailable
Length:
unavailable
Weight:
13,600 lbs.
Rate of Fire:
4,500 rounds per minute (rpm)
Ammo type:
20mm w/ tungsten penetrator; 1,500 rounds per
magazine drum
Gun
sub-system: M-61A1 6-barrel 20mm gatling gun
Guidance:
Ku-band search radar & Ku-band doppler monopulse
tracking radar
Range:
unavailable |
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Description:
Fast-reaction, rapid-fire 20-millimeter gun system.
Features: Phalanx provides ships of the
U.S. Navy with a "last-chance" defense
against anti-ship missiles and littoral warfare
threats that have penetrated other fleet defenses.
Phalanx automatically detects, tracks and engages
anti-air warfare threats such as anti-ship missiles
and aircraft, while the Block 1B's man-in-the-loop
system counters the emerging littoral warfare
threat. This new threat includes small,high-speed
surface craft, small terrorist aircraft, helicopters
and surface mines. Phalanx accomplishes these
engagements via an advanced search and track radar
system integrated with a stabilized, forward looking
infra-red (FLIR) detector. This integrated FLIR
provides Phalanx with an unique multi-spectral
detect and track capability for littoral warfare
threats and dramatically improves the existing
anti-air warfare capability. Block 1B also
incorporates new Optimized Gun Barrels which provide
improved barrel life, improved round dispersion and
increased engagement ranges.
Phalanx is the only deployed close-in weapon
system capable of autonomously performing its own
search, detect, evaluation, track, engage and kill
assessment functions. Phalanx also can be integrated
into existing Combat Systems to provide additonal
sensor and fire-control capability.
Background: The Phalanx Close-In
Weapons System (CIWS) underwent operational tests
and evaluation onboard USS Bigelow in 1977, and
exceeded maintenance and reliability specifications.
Phalanx production started in 1978 with orders for
23 USN and 14 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) systems.
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