CIWS: the Last-Ditch Defence
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NAVALFORCES CIWS: The Last-ditch Defence by Kelvin Fong The last-ditch defence against the anti-ship missile is the close-in weapon system (CIWS), which takes the form of ultra-short range light- calibre guns by putting a “wall of lead” in the path of the oncoming missile. This is after the missiles have “leaked” through the layers of hardkill and softkill defences. Systems like the American Phalanx, the Dutch Goalkeeper or the new German Millennium Gun can be operated automatically and will wait until the missile reaches a predicted point before firing. Nearly all classes of modern warship are equipped with some kind of CIWS device. Smaller CIWS-like defences are currently being developed for main battle tanks and light armoured vehicles in the USA, Israel, China and Russia (“Drozd” and “Arena” grenade launchers in the case of Russia, TROPHY in the case of Rheinmetall Israel). In some cases, the CIWS has taken the Based on the hit probability, Millennium can BK27 revolver cannon enables effective role as the secondary guns for bigger vessels defeat anti-ship missiles at ranges three to engagement of fixed wing aircraft and such as frigates and offshore patrol vessels. four times greater than those achieved by helicopters, speedboats and point targets on The anti-ship missiles are by no means the conventional CIWS. The stealth-design gun land. The system is particularly suitable for only threat but they are perhaps the most mount carries 252 rounds of 35mm ammunition defending against terrorist attacks involving perilous to surface units. Today, surface combat in a magazine inside the cupola. This allows it high-speed craft. The MLG27 features an is most likely to occur in near shore, littoral to engage ten anti-ship missiles or 20 surface integrated EO sensor package with TV camera, environments. This situation places ships and targets without reloading. The gun can also thermal imager, laser range finder, tilt sensor, their crews at risk to an increased number of fire conventional Oerlikon Contraves 35mm stabilised mirror system and video tracking threats from small, fast gun boats, standard and ammunition (e.g. HEI, SAPHEI and TPT). As an system for automatic and manual target guided artillery, helicopters, mines and a variety option, the unique “ISO mount installation” (The tracking. It can be easily integrated into or of shore launched anti-ship missiles. ISO mount installation facilitates ammunition interfaced with existing ship systems including This ever-increasing threat has increased the stowage and “cross decking” for warship different types of sensors and control demand for new-generation close-in weapon mission module flexibility) can accommodate functions. The MLG27 design allows integration systems to be fitted to new surface combatants all the equipment usually installed below deck. in all kinds of vessels without the need for that are entering service with navies of the Asia- This makes the gun fully independent of the deck penetration. The 27mm FAPDS (Frangible Pacific region. In recent years, a number of CIWS ship’s compartments, and assures fast, easy Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot) ammunition have been developed or improved. The installation and interchangeability between was designed specifically for the MLG27. The following are the more notable of the systems platforms. The Millennium Ahead 35mm gun FAPDS round achieves a similar target being offered for today’s naval forces. mount is currently the subject of a US Navy penetration as a subcalibre kinetic energy funded programme at NSWCDD, Dahlgren to round with fragmentation-based incendiary Rheinmetall Millennium Gun and MLG27 qualify it for use on the US Navy warships. effects comparable to high explosive Its high rate of fire makes the Millennium The Millennium entered into service in 2007 ammunition. It is currently in service with many GDM008 Naval Gun System the perfect match with the Royal Danish Navy on their Flexible of the world’s air forces and navies. for Rheinmetall’s 35mm Ahead airburst Support Ship, HMDS Absalon. The HMDS ammunition, which stands for “Advanced Hit Absalon is equipped with two Millennium guns, Raytheon Phalanx Efficiency and Destruction”. Fired at 1,000 one forward and one aft. The Royal Danish The most widely deployed CIWS today is the rounds per minute, the Millennium gun delivers Navy is the launch customer for series Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS which is described as a payload mass of 500kg per minute: every production of the Oerlikon Millennium naval gun an integrated, self-contained unit consisting Ahead round dispenses 152 x tungsten alloy system, having ordered six guns in 2004 with of a gun system, ammunition and radar sub-projectiles, weighing 3.3 grams each. The an option for a further four. Production for mounted in a single cylindrical elevating sub-projectiles form a lethal cone-shaped cloud other customers is also underway. Absalon- platform. The system was developed in the ahead of the oncoming target, destroying its class final SAT for the Millennium guns 1970s by General Dynamics Pomona control surfaces, seeker and other vital commenced in April 2008 on the Danish ship Division—purchased by Hughes Missile components. The Millennium gun is an Esben Snare. Systems Company in 1992 and now a part of unmanned, remotely controlled gun mount, Another latest offering by Rheinmetall is the Raytheon Systems Company (RSC). compatible with both state-of-the-art sensor and remote controlled MLG27 light naval gun Described as being affordable, the system fire control systems. It can be mounted without system which is designed for protecting of can fit virtually any ship without major ship penetrating the deck, and is especially well small surface combatants and other small craft; alteration, the Phalanx is currently installed suited to smaller surface combatants and patrol it can also serve as secondary armament on on all US combatant ships and on those of vessels. larger units. Based on the high rate of fire, the more than 20 other nations. 18 z ADJ July/August 2008 The Phalanx is armed with a fast-reaction In April 2006, Raytheon Company was minute in one integrated mounting. The system General Electric M61A1 Vulcan six-barrelled awarded a $57 million contract to produce 16 features automatic target indication and track Gatling-type gun that has a high rate of fire at Phalanx Block 1B upgrade kits for the United initiation. Threat priority is determined 3,000 rounds per minute—or 4,500 rounds- Kingdom’s Royal Navy. Today, more than 895 automatically and is directly followed by per-minute for later models—and Ku-band Phalanx systems have been built and deployed direction of the track antenna to the “priority radar featuring closed-loop spotting in the navies of 22 nations. one” target. The Goalkeeper can be integrated technology capable of autonomously with the ship’s IRST system to provide a performing its own search, detect, evaluation, Raytheon’s Phalanx and RAM Marriage passive mode, while radar data is used to track, engage and kill assessment functions. Evolved from the CIWS comprising key complete the engagement, and as a second Ammunition consists of 20mm Armour Piercing attributes of both the Phalanx CIWS and the source of tracking data that can reduce the Discarding Sabot (APDS) using heavy-metal Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Guided Weapon risk of false targets. (either tungsten or depleted uranium) 15mm System, Raytheon’s SEA RAM Missile Defence In 2004, the Republic of Korea Navy signed penetrator surrounded by a plastic sabot and System provides a high level of ship self- contracts for the delivery of five Goalkeeper a lightweight metal pusher. protection with extended keep-out range systems worth about EUR51 million. The first The initial Phalanx configuration for US Navy capability and the ability to engage multiple system was delivered in 2005. Two ships is the Block 0 that provides basic anti- targets. The SEA RAM is designed to extend Goalkeepers was installed on the LPX ship missile defence against today’s low- the inner layer battlespace and enable the ship (Landing Platform) Dokdo that was launched altitude, subsonic, non-manoeuvring anti-ship to effectively engage future high-performance, in March 2005 and in operation in June 2007. missiles (ASM). The Block 1A incorporated a supersonic, and subsonic threats. Leveraged The other three Goalkeepers are destined for new computer to provide more processing technology from Phalanx CIWS and RAM the three KDX-II Batch 2 destroyers. Three power over the obsolete earlier computer, integrates elements of each system into the Goalkeepers were also installed onboard the improved fire control algorithms to counter self-contained SEA RAM system. An 11-missile ROKN KDX III Destroyers. The delivery took manoeuvring targets, search multiple weapons round RAM launcher assembly, loaded with place between end 2006 and early 2008. The coordination to better manage engagements, RAM Block 1 guided missiles, replaces KDX III will be equipped with the AEGIS and an end-to-end testing function to better Phalanx’s 20mm gun. Combat System. This is the first time that a determine system functionality. The Block 1B Combining the RAM’s high accuracy, Goalkeeper will be installed on an AEGIS Surface Mode Upgrade builds on the existing extended range, and high manoeuvrability with destroyer. The Goalkeeper will be integrated capabilities of Block 1A with the addition of the Phalanx Block 1B’s high resolution search- in the AEGIS Combat System as an new “Optimised Gun Barrels” (OGB) which and-track sensor systems, the SEA RAM autonomous CIWS. provide improved barrel life, improved round system therefore will be a complete and For the initial CIWS procurement for the KDX dispersion pattern and increased engagement autonomous weapon system with its own Programme in the early 1990s, the ROKN ranges.