Raytheon's Phalanx 1B successful test
15 March 2002
Raytheon Company and the US Navy have successfully fired the Phalanx Block 1B Close In Weapon System in an engagement against a supersonic sea-skimming missile. The test was conducted as part of an ongoing test series onboard the Navy's Self-Defense Test Ship (SDTS).
Configurations on the SDTS fully integrate the Phalanx sensors and weapon with Raytheon's Ship Self-Defense System (SSDS) Mk 1 combat suite. During this test the Phalanx search radar passed missile detection data to SSDS which in turn designated the Phalanx CIWS to engage the incoming missile.
Post-test analysis reveals the target missile was hit by one of the first projectiles fired by Phalanx with subsequent target destruction occurring at a range double that of previous testing.
"This success further demonstrates the improvements provided by the Block 1B upgrade," said Hank Bautzmann, Phalanx chief engineer, at the company's Tucson facility. "To destroy a supersonic missile traveling at Mach-2 plus at this distance dramatically increases the keep-out range and provides our U. S. Navy customer far greater protection."
Phalanx is a rapid-fire, computer-controlled radar and 20-mm gun system that automatically acquires, tracks and destroys enemy threats that have penetrated all other ship defense systems. More than 850 systems have been built for 21 nations. Most recently, Phalanx Block 1B was installed aboard the USS Howard (DDG-83) and the USS Bulkeley (DDG-84), the US Navy's newest Arleigh Burke-class Aegis destroyers.
REF XQQAS XQQSA
DSD