Australia’s Newest Air Warfare Destroyer Receives Phalanx Block 1B Close-In Weapon System

Raytheon Company delivered the second Phalanx Block 1B Close-In Weapon System for installation on Australia’s newest Air Warfare Destroyer, the Brisbane.

A previously awarded direct commercial sale contract calls for a total of three Phalanx mounts to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy. The first mount was delivered in late 2012 for installation aboard the Hobart. A third system is under construction and will be installed on the Sydney in 2014.

“These Phalanx systems will give the Royal Australian Navy the most advanced ship self-defense capability available worldwide,” said Rick Nelson, vice president of Raytheon Missile Systems’ Naval and Area Mission Defense product line. “Thanks to recent engineering changes, we have improved the system’s reliability, added capability and greatly improved the sailor-to-machine interface in order to defeat extended-range air and surface threats.”

About Phalanx

Phalanx is a rapid-fire, computer-controlled radar and 20 mm gun system that automatically acquires, tracks and destroys enemy threats that have penetrated all other ship defense systems. More than 890 systems have been built and deployed in the navies of 25 nations.

“Phalanx provides commanders with the ability to automatically carry out functions usually performed by separate systems on other ships,” said Nelson. “Whether operating in blue water or the littorals, Phalanx will autonomously detect, evaluate, track and engage targets.”

War-tested Protection

• Extremely high reliability through development, testing and design improvements.
• Target designation for other shipboard weapons.
• Autonomous assessments of all threats from detect to destroy.

About Raytheon

Raytheon Company, with 2012 sales of $24 billion and 68,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 91 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems; as well as a broad range of mission support services. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass.

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Naval Today Staff, April 19, 2013