Navy taps Raytheon for work on Phalanx

TUCSON, June 12 - By Richard Tomkins (UPI)

The U.S. Navy has contracted Raytheon to remanufacture and upgrade its Phalanx Close-in Weapon System for use on Independence-class Littoral Combat Ships.

Raytheon reports it has received a U.S. Navy contract to remanufacture, overhaul and provide upgrades to Phalanx Close-in Weapon Systems.

The contract is worth $115.5 million, the company said. Work on the 20mm system is expected to be completed in late 2017.

Phalanx, with a computer-controlled radar, is a Gatling gun system that automatically acquires, tracks and destroys enemy threats that have penetrated all other ship defense systems. It has an effective range of 2.2 miles and a firing rate of 4,500 rounds a minute.

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