Mk 15 Phalanx Close In Weapon System

The Phalanx CIWS is a close-in weapon system for defending against anti-ship missiles -- there is also a land based variant called C-RAM. The system was designed and built by General Dynamics Corporation - Pomona Division, which is now part of major American defense contractor -- Raytheon. The phalanx is made up of radar controlled Gatling Gun mounted on a rapidly swivelling base. The gun is a 20 mm (0.79 in) 6 barrelled M61 Vulcan Gatling Gun. The latest version has a fire fate of 4,500 rounds per minute -- the rounds are either armour-piercing tungsten penetrator rounds or depleted uranium with discarding sabots. The rounds have been designed to pierce and explode an incoming missile's warhead. The Phalanx is installed on every US surface combat ship, including some US Coast Guard vessels, and the system has been bought by 16 allied countries including --Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Greece, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and New Zealand.