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.

TUCSON, Sept. 11 (UPI)

A $136.2 million contract has been given to Raytheon by the U.S. Navy for the re-manufacture, overhaul and upgrade of Phalanx Close-in Weapons Systems.

Phalanx is a rapid-fire, computer-controlled radar and 20 mm gun system that automatically acquires, tracks and destroys enemy threats.

The contract is for work on 19 Phalanx systems. It also provides for production of four SeaRAM Anti-ship Missile Defense Systems, the company said, and has a $94 million option for fiscal year 2014 to produce an additional dozen Phalanx systems and four more SeaRams.

"Phalanx is a vital ship self-defense system, providing the critical inner-layer of protection to sailors, Marines and ships," said Rick Nelson, vice president of Raytheon Missile Systems' Naval and Area Mission Defense product line.

"With SeaRAM comes a significant extension of that inner-layer battle space and the capacity to effectively engage multiple high-performance threats. Raytheon's ability to re-manufacture Phalanx equivalent to new manufacture condition -- in appearance, operation and performance -- provides a significant cost savings to our customers."