TUCSON, Ariz., Oct. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire

The U.S. Navy awarded Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) a $159.9 million contract to manufacture, inspect and test Phalanx Close-in Weapon Systems (CIWS).

Phalanx 1B encompasses the range of actions required to assure success and shape the battlespace for naval, joint, and combined forces. The contract, which provides for a $10 million option in FY15 and another valued at $291 million in FY16, includes support equipment for the Phalanx and SeaRAM Weapon Systems, Block 1B radar upgrades and kits for reliability, maintainability, and availability. The contract also covers overhaul of four Land-based Phalanx Weapon Systems. "Phalanx provides the U.S. Navy's ships with a 'last-chance' defense against anti-ship missiles and littoral warfare threats while SeaRAM extends that inner-layer battlespace," said Rick Nelson, vice president of Raytheon's Naval and Area Mission Defense product line. "Close-in systems give warfighters the ability to automatically carry out functions usually performed by separate systems on other ships." Work under the contract, which was signed in the third quarter of 2015, is expected to be completed by August 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. This contract was announced by the Department of Defense on September, 30, 2015.

Close-in Defense Solutions

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 890 systems have been built and deployed in navies around the world.

Intended to enlarge Phalanx's keep-out range against evolving anti-ship missiles, rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft and other threats, SeaRAM Anti-ship Missile Defense Systems use advanced Phalanx Block 1B sensors and replaces the gun with an 11-round Rolling Airframe Missile guide. SeaRAM is aboard the Independence-class of the U.S. Navy's Littoral Combat Ships.

About Raytheon

Raytheon Company, with 2014 sales of $23 billion and 61,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 93 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as cybersecurity and a broad range of mission support services. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. For more about Raytheon, visit us at www.raytheon.com and follow us on Twitter @Raytheon.

LONDON, Dec. 17 (UPI)

Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems are being converted back to their maritime configuration and upgraded for use on the Royal Navy's new Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier

Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems are being converted back to their maritime configuration and upgraded for use on the Royal Navy's new Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier

Britain's new aircraft carrier, the Queen Elizabeth, is to be fitted with Raytheon's Phalanx weapon systems for close-in defense.

The three systems for the carrier will be provided by British engineering firm Babcock International, in association with Raytheon, which will deliver and install Phalanx 1B kits to convert the systems to their original configuration for maritime use. The kit also upgrades the system.

Babcock said a kit for a fourth Phalanx system will be delivered under the Ministry of Defense contract.

Babcock is the in-service support provider to the Ministry of Defense for Phalanx systems, managing and performing all support activities and providing logistics support for spares and repairable units. It said it will procure the Phalanx 1B systems in partnership with Raytheon, and will also undertake the land-based Phalanx weapon system conversions using Babcock weapons support engineers.

The systems are to be delivered by March of next year.

"Following the successful on-schedule delivery of a similar contract last year, we are delighted to have this further opportunity to apply our expertise and work with Raytheon to help the MOD and Royal Navy build the Phalanx CIWS capability it needs."

Phalanx CIWS is a rapid-fire, computer-controlled radar and 20mm Gatling gun system. The Phalanx 1B upgrade incorporates a side-mounted Forward Looking Infra-Red Camera that enables the system against surface targets and slow air targets in addition to anti-ship missiles.

8 May 2014 naval-technology.com

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has taken delivery of four additional Babcock Phalanx 1B kit modifications and two conversions of the land-based Phalanx weapon system, in the upgraded marinised configuration.

These systems form part of a contract awarded in 2006 to manage and execute all maintenance support activities, such as a 24/7 helpdesk for the Royal Navy, as well as logistics support for spares and repairable units.

Babcock has worked with Phalanx 1B systems' original equipment manufacturer Raytheon to convert the two land-based systems using their own support engineers.

Babcock weapons business development manager Martin Laity said: "We are pleased to have been able to deliver this further Phalanx capability upgrade successfully and on time, in partnership with Raytheon and the MoD, to enable the MoD and Royal Navy [to] build up the Phalanx close-in weapon systems (CIWS) capability it needs."

As part of an on-going programme in collaboration with Raytheon and the International Guns Missiles and Rockets Project Team, Babcock is also under contract to modernise 16 Phalanx systems to the 1B configuration.

Acting as the UK's primary defence for ships against the threat of anti-ship missiles, Phalanx CIWS is a rapid-fire, computer-controlled radar and 20mm Gatling gun system.

Incorporating a side-mounted forward looking infra-red camera (FLIR), the upgraded Phalanx 1B weapon system enables the CIWS to guard the ship against surface targets, while slowing air targets and anti-ship missiles.

Furthermore, the 1B configuration also plays a vital role in terms of countering the threat from small surface craft in littoral waters.

Two #Phalanx #CIWS for RAN's future Hobart class #AWD's arrive in Adelaide - #Australia #Defence #Navy http://t.co/jUXRmm7WvP

RP Defense (@RPDefense)April 18, 2013