Posted on 03/29/2005 12:03:34 AM PST by Righty_McRight
Defense contractor Raytheon Co. has been awarded a $5.3 million extension to its existing contract to upgrade Phalanx weapons systems for the U.S. Navy.
The contract modification calls for Raytheon to produce 99 sets of spare parts for the Phalanx program by July 2007, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Defense.
The work primarily will be completed at Raytheon's Louisville facility in the Technology Park of Greater Louisville, the release said. Raytheon has about 350 workers at the facility and might expand by about 275 workers if it is awarded another Phalanx contract from the Defense Department.
The MK-15 Phalanx is a rapid-fire, computer-controlled radar and gun system that defends targets from anti-ship missiles, as well as other close-in surface and air threats. It employs an electronically controlled 20 mm six-barrel Gatling-style gun firing at a rate of 4,500 rounds per minute. The system is installed on every combat ship in the U.S. Navy.
Raytheon is based in Waltham, Mass.
© 2005 American City Business Journals Inc.
OMG upgrade? What parameters are there left to improve with this weapon?
Supersonic cruise missiles and air-dropped ordnance.
Hmmm. . . are we expecting to be putting some heavy wear on them in the near future?
The Russian Kashtan-M
http://www.shipunov.com/eng/kvnk/kashtan_m.htm
Does India use those? I read that China is getting those on two of the Sovremenniy destroyers that are being delivered this year.
Yes,3 Talwar class guided missile frigates use that as their CIWS & it maybe retrofitted to India's existing V/STOL carrier.I think the Kashtan will be the primary CIWS system for the new generation of Russian ships judging by the fact that is exhibited on most new Russian designs.
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