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Phalanx Weapon System Gets Upgrade

The upgrade allows soldiers and sailors to fire at varying rates, which uses less ammunition.

At the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, Raytheon recently held a successful test of a new electric gun for its Phalanx Close-In Weapon System. The upgrade allows soldiers and sailors to fire at varying rates, which uses less ammunition.

Phalanx is a rapid-fire, computer-controlled radar and 20 mm gun system that automatically acquires, tracks and destroys enemy threats, like missiles and other air and surface threats, that have penetrated all other defense systems. It is also the subject of what may be the greatest YouTube video that I have ever seen, just a sweet mix of military prowess, and metal.

The goal of the live-fire test was to make sure that the electric gun can operate despite the heavy vibrations that occur when Phalanx is fired. According to Raytheon, the new design replaces a pneumatic motor, compressor and storage tanks, reducing the system's weight by 180 pounds. The changes also increase reliability while reducing operating costs. 

More than 890 Phalanx systems have been built and deployed in navies around the world. It's installed on all U.S. Navy surface combatant ship classes, and it's onboard the ships of 24 allied nations.

The land-based version is forward deployed and has been used in combat.

Phalanx is a part of Raytheon's precision weapons product lineup that contains all kinds of air, ground, ballistic missile, and close combat defense systems, like the TALON Laser-Guided Rocket, Javelin Weapon System, and Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle.

This is IEN Now with David Mantey.

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