en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx_CIWS
The system automatically searches, detects, tracks, engages and confirms kills using its computer-controlled radar system. Because it is self-contained, Phalanx is ideal for support ships which lack integrated targeting systems and generally have limited sensors. The entire unit weighs between 5500 kg and 6100 kg(12,400 or 13,500 lb).
Phalanx CIWS firing Phalanx CIWS firing Also known as the "Goal Keeper" System, Phalanx has been developed through a number of different configurations. The basic style is the Block 0 The Block 1 (1988) offers various improvements in radar, ammunition, rate of fire, increasing engagement elevation to +70 degrees, and computing. These improvements were intended to increase the system's capability against emerging Soviet supersonic anti-ship missiles. Block 1A introduced a new computer system to counter more maneuverable targets.
Rolling Airframe Missile system to increase RAM engagement range and accuracy. The Block 1B also allows for human intervention to identify and target threats. The US and Canada are in the process of upgrading all their Phalanx systems to the Block 1B configuration.
edit How the CIWS Works The CIWS is designed to be the last line of defense against anti-ship missiles. Due to its design criteria its effective range is very short relative to the range of modern SAMs, from 1 to 5 nautical miles (9 km). The gun mount moves at a very high speed and with great precision. The system takes minimal inputs from the ship making it capable of functioning despite potential damage to the ship.
A technician checks over the RADAR transmitter and microwave assemblies of a Phalanx CIWS, most likely a Block 0 The search radar can be seen at the top with the vertical, orange-peel shaped, tracking radar below it. A technician checks over the RADAR transmitter and microwave assemblies of a Phalanx CIWS, most likely a Block 0 The search radar can be seen at the top with the vertical, orange-peel shaped, tracking radar below it.
edit Radar Subsystems The CIWS has two radars that work together to engage targets. The first radar is the search radar, located inside the radome on the weapon control group (top of the white painted portion). The search subsystem provides bearing, range, velocity, heading, and altitude information of potential targets to the CIWS computer. This information is analyzed to determine whether the detected object should be engaged by the CIWS system. Once the computer identifies a valid target (see details below), the mount moves to face the target and then hands the target over to the track radar. The track radar is an "orange peel"-style radar that is more precise, but can only view a much smaller area. The track radar observes the target until the computer determines that the probability of a successful hit is maximized and then, depending on the operator conditions, the system will either fire automatically or will recommend fire to the operator. While firing, the system tracks outgoing rounds and 'walks' them onto the target.
US Navy sailors load tungsten ammunition (white sabot at right) and off-load dummy ammunition (left). US Navy sailors load tungsten ammunition (white sabot at right) and off-load dummy ammunition (left). The Block 0 CIWS mounts (hydraulic driven) fired at a rate of 3,000 rounds per minute and they could only hold 989 rounds in the magazine drum. The Block 1 CIWS mounts (hydraulic) also fired at 3,000 rounds per minute with an extended magazine drum holding 1550 rounds. The Block 1A and newer (pneumatic driven) CIWS mounts fire at a rate of 4,500 rounds per minute and also had the larger 1550 round magazine. The velocity of the rounds once fired is approximately 3,600 feet (1,100 m) per second (1100 m/s).
The kinetic projectiles are designed to pierce and explode an incoming missile's warhead. Use of otherwise more effective high explosive shells would risk destroying the missile airframe while allowing the warhead to continue a ballistic trajectory into the ship. One of the systems takes the rounds out of the magazine drum and takes them to the gun. The second conveyor system takes either the empty shells or non-fired rounds and routes them back to the opposite end of the drum.
The CIWS has only the data it collects in real time from the radars to decide if the target is a threat and to engage it. A contact has to meet multiple criteria for it to be considered a target;
A sailor sits in front of a CIWS Local Control Panel (LCP) during a general quarters drill. A sailor sits in front of a CIWS Local Control Panel (LCP) during a general quarters drill. The CIWS search radar will see contacts that are out-bound and discard them. The CIWS will only engage a target if it is approaching the ship. If a contact is not heading directly at the ship, the CIWS looks at its heading in relation to the ship and its velocity. It then decides if the contact can perform a maneuver to still hit the ship. The CIWS has the ability to engage targets that travel in a wide range of speeds; if a target exceeds this velocity, the CIWS will not engage it. It also has a minimum target velocity, meaning any contact going below that velocity will not be engaged by the CIWS. The operator also has the option to adjust the minimum and maximum limits within the limits of the system. What is described above are the basics of how the CIWS works. There are many other subsystems that run in the background to ensure proper operation, such as environmental control, transmitter, mount movement control, power control and distribution and so on. It takes 6 to 8 months to train a technician to maintain, operate, and repair the CIWS.
A night time test firing of the Phalanx Mark 15 Close In Weapons System (CIWS). A night time test firing of the Phalanx Mark 15 Close In Weapons System (CIWS). The Phalanx system has never been credited with shooting down any enemy missiles or aircraft.
chaff, the Phalanx system on Jarrett, operating in the automatic target-acquisition mode, fixed upon Missouri's chaff and fired a burst of rounds (not destroying the incoming missile). From this burst, four rounds hit Missouri which was two to three miles (5 km) from Jarrett at the time.
Rolling Airframe Missile, which has greater range and higher hit probability. The RAM system uses an automated and self-sufficient radar fire control similar to that of Phalanx.
Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System The US Army's version of the Navy's CIWS Phalanx anti-missile system is called the "Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System" (LPWS). It is a type of "C-RAM" (counter-rockets, artillery and mortars) defensive weapon.
These rounds explode on impact with the target, or upon tracer burnout. With a reliability of between 95 and 99 percent the odds of live rounds falling on "friendlies" is minimal.
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