Description:
Fast-reaction, rapid-fire 20-millimeter gun system.
Features: Phalanx provides US Navy ships with a
terminal defense against anti-ship missiles that have penetrated
other fleet defenses. Designed to engage anti-ship cruise
missiles and fixed-wing aircraft at short range, Phalanx
automatically engages functions usually performed by separate,
independent systems such as search, detection, threat evaluation,
acquisition, track, firing, target destruction, kill assessment
and cease fire.
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.
Point of Contact:
Public Affairs Office
Naval Sea Systems Command (OOD)
Washington, DC 20360
Primary Function: Anti-ship missile defense
Contractor: Hughes Missile Systems Company (formerly
General Dynamics' Pomona Division, sold to Hughes in 1992)
Weight: 12,500 pounds (5,625 kg) - Later models: 13,600
pounds (6,120 kg)
Range: Classified
Gun Type: M-61A1 Gatling
Type of Fire: 3,000 rounds per minute - Later models:
4,500 rounds/min (starting 1988 production, Pneumatic Gun Drive)
Magazine Capacity: 989 rounds - Later models: 1,550 rounds
Caliber: 20mm
Ammunition: Armor Piercing Discarding Sabot (APDS),
Depleted Uranium sub-caliber penetrator. Penetrator changed to
Tungsten 1988.
Sensors: Self-contained search and track radar
Date Deployed:
1980 (aboard USS Coral Sea)
Later models: 1988 (aboard USS Wisconsin)
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