          
DESIGNATOR :  Mk 15/16 
              20-mm/76-calibaer CLOSE IN WEAPON SYSTEM (CIWS) 
NAME:         PHALANX GATLING GUN 
          
DESCRIPTION:
      The Phalanx is a self-contained, shipboard self-defense gun using 
   a modified M61 Vulcan six-barrel Gatling cannon, built-in pulse-doppler 
   J-band fire control radar, and digital computer.  It is intended to treat 
   attacking anti-ship missiles. The US Navy uses the designations mk 15 and 
   Mk 16 to refer to CIWS. 
           
STATUS: 
   Initial operational capability 1980.  In production by Pomona Division, 
   General Dynamics Corp., Pomona Calif..  General Electric has a contract to 
   qualify as second source for the system and is the supplier of all M61 guns.
   In service in some 200 US ships with plans to equip 250. Also in service 
   with several foreign navies. 
           
USERS/PLATFORMS 
            NAVY              Aircraft Carriers (3-4 mounts) 
                              Battleships (4) 
                              Cruisers (2) 
                              Destroyers (2) 
                              Frigates (1) 
                              Amphibious Command Ships (2) 
                              Helicopter Carriers (1-2) 
                              Amphibious Transport Docks (2) 
                              Dock Landing Ships (2) 
                              Tank Landing Ships (1) 
                              Ammunition Ships (2) 
                              Combat Stores Ships (2) 
                              Combat Support Ships (2) 
                              Replenishment Oilers (1) 
          Coast Guard         High-endurance Cutters (1) 
           
          Australia           Great Britain       Japan          Canada 
          Israel              Saudia Arabia 
           
          CHARACTERISTICS: 
          Weight, Mount       12,000 lbs (5,443) 
          Armament 
          Performance: 
             Maximum range    1,625 yd (1,486 m) 
             Rate Of Fire     3,000 rpm theoretical maximum 
             Muzzle velocity  3,280 fps (1,000 mps) 
             Reaction time    2 seconds from threat detection 
             Projectile       Mk 149 sub-caliber (12.75 mm) depleted uranium 
                              Penetrator 2 1/2 times as dense as steel within a 
                              nylon sabot and spun initially by an aluminum 
                              "pusher". 
             Magazine Capacity 
               Mod 0 Block 0  980 rounds 
                     Block 1  Approximately 1,450 rounds 
          Fire Control 
             VPS-2 Pulse-doppler, J-band search and track radar with close-loop 
              spotting which follows both target and its own 20-mm projectiles. 
             High-speed digital computer automatically engages incoming, high 
             speed Threat unless countermanded by the operator. 
          Crew 
             Unmanned 
          Protection 
             Weather protection for mount radar 
           
  BLOCK 1:   Has improved radar with four-plate back-to-back search array for 
  high-elevation coverage, greater ammunition stowage, higher rate of fire, and 
  enhanced reliability and maintainability. Authorization for limited production 
  in 1986 
           
  ISSUES:  The installation of Phalanx CIWS came several years after the 
  appearance of similar rapid-fire gun systems of larger caliber, in Soviet 
  surface warships.  Most foreign CIWS designs include 25-mm or 30-mm rapid- 
  fire gun rather than the smaller 20-mm of the Phalanx. 
           
          PROGRAM ACQUISITION COSTS (IN MILLIONS) 
           
                            Actual         Proposed           Proposed 
                             FY87            FY88               FY89 
           
          Procurement     (24) 102.2      (5)  28.1          (5)  19.4 
          Initial Spares         1.8            1.6                1.1 
          RDT&E                  5.3            7.6               11.9 
          Military Construction ----           ----               ---- 
           
                       Totals  109.3           37.3               32.4 
           
               Unit Costs (FY1988) $5,604,600 
           
OPERATIONAL NOTES:  
  The CIWS on the USS STARK (FFG31) did not engage the French-Built Exocet 
  AM-39 air-to-surface missiles launched against the ship by an Iraqi aircraft
  on 17 May 1987. In Senate Hearings before the Committee on Appropriations 
  for FY1986, US Department of Defense officials were asked about the 
  effectiveness of the CIWS against Exocet missiles, to which they replied, 
  "In Recent operational tests, PHALANX destroyed numerous EXOCETS in an 
  imparessive4 fashion." 
 
  Call...Dark Cult of Destruction....+46-303-227581 V32bis

