Centurion C-RAM

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Phalanx
A Phalanx C-RAM
TypeAir defense artillery
Place of originUnited States[1]
Service history
In service2004–present[2]
Used by
Wars
Production history
Designer
Manufacturer
Specifications
ShellM-940 20mm MPT-SD[5]
Caliber20 mm (0.79 in)
Barrels6, M61A1 type barrel
Rate of fire4500 RPM[3]
Effective firing range2000 meters[5]
Maximum firing range2300 meters

The Land Phalanx Weapon System (LPWS), often called C-RAM, or Centurion C-RAM is an American air defense artillery system. The system was developed in 2004, during and 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 developed and produced by Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and Oshkosh Corporation. 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 after an uptick in mortar attacks. [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 army’s strategy was to stop indirect fire from impacting into friendly forces or assets, by tracking and warning friendly units, or destroying the munition.[1]

The tracers of the ammunition

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] The Centurion has a Ku-band actively scanned electronic array radar produced by Raytheon for tracking g smaller targets in the air.[6] The Phalanx can be mounted on an Oshkosh-built HEMTT with integrated generator and cooling system. The system was designed to be fully mobile and to increase the flexibility of the inherently stationary system. The vehicle's high power availability was needed to support the vehicle. The mobile variant is functionally the same as the stationary variant. The mobile variant is self contained for easy deployment and movement.[2][7]

The system was feilded in Afganistan at US and allied bases that would be too small to cost-effectivly deploy other systems. The system has sensors and imaging so that it is fully self contained.[8] The Centurion shot down 70% of indrect fire in Afganistan, defending an area roughly 1.2 km around the bases as well.[9]

Operators[edit]

A US Army soldier performing maintenance on a Phalanx in Afghanistan.
Name of operator Year acquired Notes
United States United States Army 2004[1]
United Kingdom British Armed Forces 2007[10] Originally rented from the United States[10]
Israel Israel Defense Forces 2009[11] Acquired for testing as a candidate for the Iron Dome[11]
Australia Australian Defence Force 2016[12]
Ukraine Armed Forces of Ukraine none yet[13] Ukraine has not acquired any units yet but is negotiating with the United States to receive them[13]

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] The system has been pushed as an idea to counter Iranian missile and drones, especally in the gulf states. [14] As of 2008, the US army had recived 22 systems, leading to the navy experiencing some delays.[15]

Experimental versions[edit]

The concept of a laser based Centurion system has been suggested by companies such as Raytheon, for the ability to cover a larger area. Although projects have been abandoned in the past, and electricity consumption has consistently been too high for combat enviroments. [16] Lasers have been proposed as a C-RAM system that has a lower impact on the ground, as they create little debris. The laser system is also being proposed to reduce the cost of intreception. [17]

References[edit]

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "KuRFS: Ku-band Radio Frequency Sensor". RTX.com. Archived from the original on 20 March 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Sheikh, Fawzia (2009). "Shaffer: DOD Fielded System In Afghanistan To Counter Rocket Attacks". Inside the Pentagon. 25 (48): 5–6. ISSN 2164-814X.
  9. ^ Allen, Christopher W. (2019). US Air Force Expeditionary Security Operations 2040: A Technology Vision for Deployed Air Base Defense Capabilities (Report). Air University Press. pp. 335–354.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ Cohen, Eliot; Edelman, Eric; Takeyh, Ray (2016). "Time to Get Tough on Tehran: Iran Policy After the Deal". Foreign Affairs. 95 (1): 64–75. ISSN 0015-7120.
  15. ^ Cohen, Eliot; Edelman, Eric; Takeyh, Ray (2016). "Time to Get Tough on Tehran: Iran Policy After the Deal". Foreign Affairs. 95 (1): 64–75. ISSN 0015-7120.
  16. ^ Allen, Christopher W. (2019). US Air Force Expeditionary Security Operations 2040: A Technology Vision for Deployed Air Base Defense Capabilities (Report). Air University Press. pp. 335–354.
  17. ^ Doubleday, Justin (2014). "Army Successfully Tests High-Energy Laser Against Airborne Threats". Inside the Army. 26 (36): 7–7. ISSN 2164-8182.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Centurion_C-RAM&oldid=1222190097"