Group : Sea-Based Air Defense Systems
Status : Active
Also Known As : CIWS, Close-In Weapon System
Origin : United States of America
Contractor : Raytheon
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 1980
Total Production : 850

The Phalanx CIWS advanced radar-controlled gun system provides "last chance" defense for ships against anti-ship missiles and aircraft. It automatically detects, tracks and engages anti-air warfare threats such as anti-ship missiles and aircraft. It features a 20mm M-61A1cannon (with rotating cluster of 6 barrels), search and track radar and FLIR in the Block 1B model. To date, the United States Navy and 20 allied nations have purchased more than 850 Phalanx systems.

The Phalanx Block 0 was introduced in 1980 aboard USS Coral Sea. The baseline Phalanx provides basic anti-ship missile defense and allow for economical upgrades to more advanced configurations. Phalanx Block 0 fires a 20mm sabot projectile with a depleted uranium penetrator surrounded by plastic and metal.

Group : Sea-Based Air Defense Systems
Status : Active
Also Known As : CIWS, Close-In Weapon System
Origin : United States of America
Contractor : Raytheon
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 1988
Total Production : ?

The Phalanx CIWS advanced radar-controlled gun system provides "last chance" defense for ships against anti-ship missiles and aircraft. It automatically detects, tracks and engages anti-air warfare threats such as anti-ship missiles and aircraft. It features a 20mm M-61A1cannon (with rotating cluster of 6 barrels), search and track radar and FLIR in the Block 1B model. To date, the United States Navy and 20 allied nations have purchased more than 850 Phalanx systems.

The Phalanx Block 1A adds increased rate of fire, increased ammunition, a high-order language computer and expanded radar envelopes to counter modern (supersonic and sea-skimming) anti-ship missiles. Phalanx Block 1 fires a 20mm sabot projectile with a tungsten penetrator instead of depleted uranium penetrator.

Phalanx close-in weapon systems were provided to Type 42 destroyers, Royal Fleet Auxiliary's Fort Victoria and Fort George, Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH) and HMS Ark Royal aircraft carrier. The Royal Navy will upgrade 16 Phalanx Block 1A to Block 1B standard from 2007. The first two upgraded Phalanx Block 1Bs are expected to enter service in May 2008 onboard HMS Southampton destroyer. In late 2006 the Royal Navy inventory included 36 Phalanx gun systems.

Group : Sea-Based Air Defense Systems
Status : Active
Also Known As : CIWS, Close-In Weapon System
Origin : United States of America
Contractor : Raytheon
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 1999
Total Production : ?
Unitary Cost : USD $12.0 million

The Phalanx CIWS advanced radar-controlled gun system provides "last chance" defense for ships against anti-ship missiles and aircraft. It automatically detects, tracks and engages anti-air warfare threats such as anti-ship missiles and aircraft. It features a 20mm M-61A1cannon (with rotating cluster of 6 barrels), search and track radar and FLIR in the Block 1B model. To date, the United States Navy and 20 allied nations have purchased more than 850 Phalanx systems.

The Phalanx Block 1B weapon system, derivative of Block 1A, 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 through an advanced search and track radar and a stabilized FLIR that provides passive thermal tracking capability, becoming a truly multi-spectral weapon system. Block 1B also incorporates new optimized barrels which provide improved barrel life, improved round dispersion and increased engagement ranges.

Phalanx Block 1B close-in weapon system is being supplied as an upgrade kit to revamp existing Phalanx weapon systems to the 1B configuration. The US Navy and the Navy of Canada have chosen this approach. ATK's 20mm Mk244 Enhanced Lethality Cartridges (ELC) is being provided to the 1B variant for enhanced performance. Phalanx 1B is an evolutionary, rather a revolutionary, enhancement of Phalanx to counter the changing threat.

On May 16, 2005, Raytheon was awarded a $45 million modification contract for Mk 15 Phalanx Block 1B upgrade and conversion performance enhancement equipment for the United States Navy and the Portuguese Navy. Each country/customer will receive/upgrade three Phalanx 1Bs by December 2007.

In April 2006 the Royal Navy ordered 16 Phalanx Block 1B upgrade kits through a $57 million contract awarded to Raytheon. Kit deliveries were expected to start in September 2007 and complete six years later. The Royal Navy intention with the purchase of Phalanx 1B weapon systems was to improve its ships' performance in the littoral environment.

Group : Local Air Defenses
Status : Active
Also Known As : LPWS (Land-based Phalanx Weapon System), Mk 15 MOD 29
Origin : United States of America
Contractors : Raytheon*, General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : July 2005
Total Production : 32

The Centurion is a modified Phalanx Block 1B weapon system mounted on a stabilized wheeled platform to protect ground forces and high-value sites against rocket, artillery and mortar (RAM) threats. This Counter-RAM (C-RAM) weapon system has been deployed in the Global War on Terror (GWOT) with the Armed Forces of the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK). As of July 2008, the Centurion has successfully intercepted and destroyed over 100 RAM threats.