defenseindustrydaily.com — The radar-guided, rapid-firing Mk. 15 Phalanx can fire between 3,000-4,500 20mm rounds per minute as a last-ditch defense against incoming anti-ship missiles, and upgraded Block 1B versions can now be used against small gunboats, standard and guided artillery; helicopters, et. al.
Jul 5, 2006 View in Crawl 4
crashflowJul 5, 2006
minigun == dugg
profjohnJul 6, 2006
My father worked as a civilian for the Navy on the simulation system for the Phalanx guns during the 1980s, so I had some nice opportunities to see the system. It was (and I suspect still is) a mighty damn impressive piece of military hardware.
darthmdhJul 6, 2006
I've witnessed a Phalanx track a human ... the look of fear on this papparazzi's face as he became aware others might know he just soiled himself was pure gold!
xandroJul 6, 2006
Right, uh, the Block 1B variant is about 6-7 years old now, I fail to see how this is new and/or cutting edge. CIWS doesn't reassure me much.. basically if the SM-2's (and the possibly soon to be SM-3's) can't take down the birds, be ready to kiss your butt goodbye.
eicosJul 6, 2006
The Phalanx is completely outmoded. Both the SS-N-22 Moskit and the SS-N-26 Yahkonts travel so rapidly that by the time the Phalanx's fire control radar picks up the missile, it has 2.5 s to calculate a firing solution and fire. That's not enough time, and even if it were, something moving at Mach 3 (and aimed at your carrier) is not easily dislodged from its course. SM-2/3 will also be completely useless unless it can intercept the missile at an early point in its flight path while it is still at high altitude, but since it takes only about two minutes for a Moskit to travel the full 66 nm or so of its range, that too is very unlikely. It should also be noted that both the Yahkontz and the Moskit have advanced guidance packages which enable them to execute violent terminal-phase maneuvers, making them a very difficult target. The RIM-116 has a better chance of being able to intercept these missiles, though it is as yet unproven, but even then one must assume that the missile has been detected tens of miles out. As CBGs usually maintain E-2 patrols, it seems plausible that an intercept could be mounted, but a massed salvo of these missiles would nonetheless be an extremely serious threat for any CBG.You'd have better luck with Aegis taking out aircraft before they can launch the supersonic cruise missiles, but land, surface, or sub emplacements would be extremely problematic. In addition, both Iran and China have these missiles, making any future engagement risky for US CBGs. It is not inconceivable that an entire CBG could be lost to a large salvo of supersonic cruise missiles, should our defenses prove to be inadequate or a slip-up occur.
obkenobiJul 6, 2006
LOL. I see alot of defense contractor employees are modding me down. I noticed the same thing in the story I posted about DoD software cost overruns.What are you trying to hide, eh?
furiouszebraJul 7, 2006
"Yes but a few managed to slip in"Yes, that was my point. They almost completely destroyed an aircraft carrier.
navymidDec 1, 2006
Does anybody know where I can find a diagram of the fuze of the phalanx? also i need information on its ammunition, armor piercing discarding sabot (APDS) and depleted Uranium or Tungsten sub-caliber penetrator?
fc2fannonDec 15, 2007
No, we don't "throw a metric assload of lead in its direction in hopes that the missile hits it and disentigrates" we can repeatedly hit a target the size of a baseball (about how big the heads of some of these missiles are, and ps, all you see is the head when its pointed at you) thats doing mach 2 and zigzagging. If you don't believe me that this gun is useful ask the men in Iraq who hear it firing and sucessfully taking down mortars and RPGs aimed at them.
fc2fannonDec 15, 2007
The USS Stark was hit by two missiles. CIWS was not searching (in civspeak think of it not being on). Fire control doctrine has changed alot since then too. We are much more prepared than in the 1980s
fc2fannonDec 15, 2007
no, it is a Anti Sship Missile Defense system not vice versa. It defends against anti ship missiles.