Raytheon has secured a $159.9m contract from the US Navy to manufacture, inspect and test Phalanx Close-in Weapon Systems (CIWS).
The latest contract covers support equipment for the Phalanx and SeaRAM Weapon Systems, Block 1B radar upgrades, and kits for reliability, maintainability, and availability.
In addition, the contract includes overhaul of four land-based Phalanx Weapon Systems, the company stated.
Raytheon Naval and Area Mission Defense product line vice-president Rick Nelson said: "Phalanx provides the US Navy’s ships with a ‘last-chance’ defence against anti-ship missiles and littoral warfare threats, while SeaRAM extends that inner-layer battlespace.
"Close-in systems give warfighters the ability to automatically carry out functions usually performed by separate systems on other ships."
The latest contract also includes a $10m option in fiscal year 2015, and another valued at $291m in fiscal year 2016.
Work under the contract is scheduled to be performed in Louisville, Kentucky, and is expected to be complete by August 2018.
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 May, the US State Department approved a possible foreign military sale worth $310m to Turkey for MK 15 Phalanx close-in weapons system (CIWS) upgrades and associated equipment, parts, and logistical support.
Image: Phalanx automatically acquires, tracks and destroys enemy threats that have penetrated all other ship defence systems. Photo: courtesy of Raytheon Company.
