Centurion C-RAM
 | It has been suggested that this article be merged into Phalanx CIWS. (Discuss) Proposed since March 2024. |
| Phalanx | |
|---|---|
 A Phalanx C-RAM | |
| Type | Air defense artillery |
| Place of origin | United States[1] |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2004–present[2] |
| Used by | |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Designer | |
| Manufacturer | |
| Specifications | |
| Shell | M-940 20mm MPT-SD[5] |
| Caliber | 20 mm (0.79 in) |
| Barrels | 6, M61A1 type barrel |
| Rate of fire | 4500 RPM[3] |
| Effective firing range | 2000 meters[5] |
| Maximum firing range | 2300 meters |
The Phalanx Weapon System, often called C-RAM, or Centurion C-RAM is an American air defense artillery system. The system was developed in 2004, after the Iraq war identified a weakness in ground based anti projectile artillery. The system is produced by Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and Oshkosh Corporation.
Description[edit]
The Phalanx was produced during Operation Enduring Freedom to provide defense from rockets and artillery/mortar shells, fulfilling the Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar role. The system was developed off of the Navy's ship-based close-in weapons system, when the Army requested to use the already produced system to defend against indirect fire.[5][1] The system was first tested by Raytheon in November 2004, entering full service with the Army in 2005 as part of the Forward area air defense system.[1] The C-RAM strategy is designed to stop indirect fire from impacting into friendly forces or assets, by tracking and warning friendly units, or destroying the munition.[1]
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The Phalanx uses the 20 millimeter M-940 MPT-SD round designed by General Dynamics for air defense. The round is engineered to self-destruct 2300 meters from launch, to prevent casualties on the ground. It also contains a tracer.[5] It also has a Ku-band radar with an actively scanned electronic array produced by Raytheon.[6] The Phalanx can be mounted on an Oshkosh-built HEMTT with integrated generator. The system was designed to be fully mobile and to increase the flexibility of the inherently stationary system. The vehicle's high power availability made the system viable, as the Phalanx requires high power usage. The mobile variant is functionally the same as the stationary variant.[2][7]
Operators[edit]
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| Name of operator | Year acquired | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
United States Army | 2004[1] | |
|
British Armed Forces | 2007[8] | Originally rented from the United States[8] |
|
Israel Defense Forces | 2009[9] | Acquired for testing as a candidate for the Iron Dome[9] |
|
Australian Defence Force | 2016[10] | |
|
Armed Forces of Ukraine | none yet[11] | Ukraine has not acquired any units yet but is negotiating with the United States to receive them[11] |
Initially, the C-RAM systems were distributed to United States allies for use against insurgent mortar attacks in the Iraq War, this being a common type of attack.[5] The system was operated by several countries in the Green Zone to defend against attacks on embassies in the area.[1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Army C-RAM Intercepts 100th Mortar Bomb in Iraq". 31 December 2009. Archived from the original on 31 December 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar (C-RAM) – Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance". Archived from the original on 15 March 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Rapidly Deployable Mobile Counter Rockets Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM)" (PDF). Nato.int. 1 October 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
- ^ Beinart, Matthew (30 August 2021). "U.S. Forces Use C-RAM To Take Out Rocket Aimed At Kabul Airport". Defense Daily. Archived from the original on 23 October 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "20MM C-RAM" (PDF). General Dynamics. 6 March 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
- ^ "KuRFS: Ku-band Radio Frequency Sensor". RTX.com. Archived from the original on 20 March 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
- ^ Raytheon Corporate Communications. "Raytheon: Raytheon's Mobile Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System Completes Live-Fire Demonstration – Dec 2, 2010". Raytheon News Release Archive (Press release). Archived from the original on 20 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ a b "UK deploys Phalanx C-RAM system to protect forces in Iraq" (PDF). Jane's Defense Weekly. 25 May 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ a b "U.S., Israel Pursue Counter Rocket, Artillery & Mortar (C-RAM) Weapons – Defense Update". 8 February 2008. Archived from the original on 20 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ "ADF steps up Iraq training and counter Daesh effort – Australian Defence Magazine". www.australiandefence.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Ukraine asks US for new capabilities in fighting Iranian drones". ABC News. Archived from the original on 20 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.