// UNMANNED SYSTEMS AND NEXT-GEN WARFARE TERM
Phalanx
Phalanx is a rapid-firing, computer-controlled Gatling gun system used on naval ships for automated, last-ditch defense. It automatically detects and shoots down incoming threats like anti-ship missiles and aircraft at very close range.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
The Phalanx is a radar-guided Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) manufactured by Raytheon, featuring a 20mm M61 Vulcan Gatling gun for terminal defense. This autonomous system is deployed on naval vessels to neutralize anti-ship missiles (ASMs) and other aerial threats, with a land-based variant known as C-RAM.
SYNONYMS & ALIASES
- CIWS
- Sea Whiz
- R2-D2
- Vulcan Phalanx
- close-in weapon system
- C-RAM
USAGE NOTE
While Phalanx is a specific product name, it's often used colloquially to refer to any naval CIWS.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Phalanx.
The original developer and manufacturer of the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), a rapid-fire, radar-guided gun system designed for defending ships against anti-ship missiles and other close-in threats.
Manufacturer of the M61 Vulcan, the 20mm Gatling-style rotary cannon that serves as the core armament of the Phalanx CIWS.
Develops the SeaRAM Anti-Ship Missile Defense System, which combines the sensor systems of the Phalanx with an 11-round Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) launcher, creating a next-generation CIWS.
A European defense multinational that developed and manufactured the Goalkeeper CIWS, a major competitor to the Phalanx system that utilizes a 30mm GAU-8/A Avenger cannon.
A major defense contractor involved in the integration, support, and modernization of naval combat systems, including providing upgrades and maintenance for CIWS platforms on warships globally.
A Turkish defense corporation that develops and produces the GOKDENIZ, a naval close-in weapon system that serves a similar role to the Phalanx for air and missile defense.
A German arms manufacturer that produces the Oerlikon Millennium Gun, a 35mm naval gun system used as a close-in weapon system for defense against anti-ship missiles, aircraft, and small surface targets.