Raytheon has received a contract from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) to upgrade its Phalanx close-in weapon systems (CIWS).
Under the $205m, multi-year bulk-buy contract, the company will deliver Phalanx CIWS upgrade kits, support equipment and hardware spares.
Raytheon Missile Systems Naval and Area Mission Defense product line vice-president Rick Nelson said: "Phalanx provides the critical inner-layer of protection to sailors around the globe against threats that are continually evolving.
"Thanks to its array of sensors, Phalanx brings a proven solution against threats launched from land, sea or air."
An integral part of Japan’s ship self-defence programme, Phalanx is an anti-ship missile system that defends vessels and their crews from threats, including helicopters, floating mines and standard and guided artillery, in addition to a range of shore-launched, anti-ship missiles.
The rapid-fire, computer-controlled radar integrates the 20mm gun system, and is capable of automatically acquiring, tracking and destroying enemy hazards that have infiltrated other defence systems on vessels.
In a bid to extend Phalanx’s prohibition range against approaching anti-ship missiles, rotary and fixed-wing aircraft and other hazards, SeaRAM anti-ship missile defence systems deploy improved Phalanx Block 1B sensors an 11-round rolling airframe missile guide.
SeaRAM is currently deployed on the US Navy’s Independence-class littoral combat ships (LCS), including the USS Independence (LCS 2) and USS Coronado (LCS 4).
Image: The SeaRAM anti-ship missile defence system equipped on a navy vessel. Photo: courtesy of the US Navy.
