Close-in weapon system

A close-in weapon system (CIWS Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> is a point-defense weapon system for detecting and destroying short-range incoming missiles and enemy aircraft which have penetrated the outer defenses, typically mounted on a naval ship. Nearly all classes of larger modern warships are equipped with some kind of CIWS device.

There are two types of CIWS systems. A gun-based CIWS usually consists of a combination of radars, computers, and rapid-firing multiple-barrel rotary cannons placed on a rotating turret. Missile-based CIWSs use either infra-red, passive radar/ESM, or semi-active radar terminal guidance to guide missiles to the targeted enemy aircraft or other threats. In some cases, CIWS are used on land to protect military bases. In this case, the CIWS can also protect the base from shell and rocket fire.

Gun systemsEdit

File:A Phalanx CIWS and ASELSAN STOP on the fore-starboard side of TCG Anadolu.jpg

Phalanx CIWS and Aselsan STOP aboard the TCG ship Anadolu

A gun-based CIWS usually consists of a combination of radars, computers and rotary or revolver cannon placed on a rotating, automatically aimed gun mount. Examples of gun-based CIWS products in operation are:

AK-630, 630M, 306, 630M1-2, and 630M2 - 30×165mm caliber
Aselsan GOKDENIZ and GOKDENIZ ER - 35×228mm
DARDO and Fast Forty - 40×365mmR
Denel 35mm Dual Purpose Gun - 35×228mm
Goalkeeper CIWS - 30×173mm
Kashtan CIWS and M variant - 30×165mm
Mauser BK-27 - 27×145mm
Meroka CIWS - 20×128mm
Myriad CIWS - 25×184mm
PIT-Radwar OSU-35K - 35×228mm
Rheinmetall Oerlikon Millennium Gun<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> - 35×228mm

Rheinmetall Sea Snake 30 mm - 30×173mm
Phalanx CIWS Block 0, 1, 1A, and 1B - 20×102mm
Sea Zenith - 25×184mm
H/PJ-76A - 37×240mm
Type 730 and Type 1130 CIWS - 30×165mm
Pantsir-M - 30×165mm

Limitations of gun systemsEdit

CIWS systems are short range: the maximum effective range of gun systems is about Template:Convert; systems with lighter projectiles have even shorter range. The expected real-world kill-distance of an incoming anti-ship missile is about Template:Convert or less,<ref>Template:Citation</ref> still close enough to cause damage to the ship's sensor or communication arrays, or to wound or kill exposed personnel. Thus some CIWS like Russian Kashtan and Pantsir systems are augmented by installing the close range surface-to-air missiles on the same mounting for increased tactical flexibility.

They have a limited kill probability compared to other antiair guns. Even if the missile is hit and damaged, this may not be enough to destroy it entirely or to alter its course. Even in the case of a direct hit, the missile or fragments from it may still impact the intended target, particularly if the final interception distance is short. This is especially true if the gun fires kinetic-energy-only projectiles.<ref>Discovery Channel Discovery Channel Science Top 10 Weapon: Fire Power</ref>

Comparison tableEdit

Comparison
	DARDO<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Goalkeeper	Kashtan<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Millennium Template:Citation needed	Phalanx<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Type 730<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Gökdeniz<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	OSU-35K
Origin	Italy	Netherlands	Russia	Switzerland	United States	China	Turkey	Poland
Image	File:2014.3.19 해군 2함대 천안함 4주기 해상기동 훈련 Republic of Korea Navy 2nd Fleet Command (13370378983).jpg	File:Goalkeeper CIWS Gun Opens Fire During Exercise at Sea MOD 45151583.jpg	File:Кортик на корвете Стерегущий.jpg	File:Oerlikon Millennium 35 mm Naval Revolver Gun Systems on HDMS Absalon (L16).jpg	File:Phalanx CIWS - ID 060817-N-8547M-014.jpg	File:Handan (579) Frigate - Type 1130 CIWS - Side View.jpg	File:2022-04-27 Gokdeniz 001.jpg	File:OSU-35K MSPO 2023.png
Weight	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	?	Template:Convert
Armament	Template:Convert 2 barreled Bofors 40 mm	Template:Convert 7 barreled GAU-8 Gatling Gun	x2 Template:Convert 6 barreled GSh-6-30 rotary auto cannon 8 × 9M311K + 32 missiles	Template:Convert 1 barreled Oerlikon Millennium 35 mm Naval Revolver Gun System	Template:Convert 6 barreled M61 Vulcan Gatling Gun	Template:Convert 7 barreled Gatling Gun	Template:Convert 2 barreled Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon	Template:Convert 1 barreled Oerlikon KDA autocannon
Rate of fire	600/900 rounds per minute	4,200 rounds per minute	10,000 rounds per minute (5,000 per gun) 1–2 (salvo) missiles per 3–4 sec	200/1000 rounds per minute	4,500 rounds per minute	5,800 rounds per minute	1,100 rounds per minute (550 per gun)	550 rounds per minute
(effective/ flat-trajectory) Range	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Missiles: 1,500–10,000 m (4,900–32,800 ft) Guns: 300–5,000 m (980–16,400 ft)	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	Template:Convert	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> 4,000 metres (13,000 ft)	FAPDS: Template:Convert ABM: Template:Convert
Ammunition storage	736 rounds	1,190 rounds	2 × 2,000 rounds	252 rounds	1,550 rounds	640 or 2 × 500 rounds (depending on model)	?	2 × 100 rounds
Muzzle velocity	Template:Convert per second	Template:Convert per second	960–1100 m/s (3,150-3,610 ft/s)	Template:Convert per second / Template:Convert per second	Template:Convert per second	Template:Convert per second	1,020 m/s (3,300 ft/s)	FAPDS: Template:Convert ABM: Template:Convert
Elevation	−13 to +85 degrees	−25 to +85 degrees	?	−15 to +85 degrees	−25 to +85 degrees	−25 to +85 degrees	?	−10 to +85 degrees
Speed in elevation	60 degrees per second	100 degrees per second	50 degrees per second	70 degrees per second	115 degrees per second	100 degrees per second	?	?
Traverse	360 °	360 °	360 °	360 °	360 °	360 °	360 °	360 °
Speed in traverse	90 degrees per second	100 degrees per second	70 degrees per second	120 degrees per second	115 degrees per second	100 degrees per second	?	?
In service	?	1980	1989	2003	1980	2007	2019	2022

Missile systemsEdit

File:Palma-SU CIWS on Vietnamese Gepard 3.9 frigate Trần Hưng Đạo.jpg

Similar to Kashtan CIWS and Pantsir-M, the Russian-designed Palma CIWS is also a combination of rapid-firing rotary cannons and short-range surface-to-air missiles such as the 9M337 Sosna-R.

A missile-based CIWS comprises a combination of radars and computers connected to either a rotating, automatically aimed launcher mount or vertical launching system. Examples of missile-based CIWS in operational service are:

Land-basedEdit

CIWS are also used on land in the form of Pantsir and C-RAM.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On a smaller scale, active protection systems are used in some tanks (to destroy rocket propelled grenades (RPGs), and several are in development. The Drozd system was deployed on Soviet Naval Infantry tanks in the early 1980s, but later replaced by explosive reactive armour. Other systems that are available or under development are the Russian Arena, Israeli Trophy, American Quick Kill and South African-Swedish LEDS-150.

Laser systemsEdit

Laser-based CIWS systems are being researched. In August 2014 an operational prototype was deployed to the Persian Gulf aboard Template:USS.<ref>U.S. Navy Deploys Its First Laser Weapon in the Persian Gulf Template:Webarchive - Bloomberg.com, 14 November 2014</ref> The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (Turkish: Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu, TÜBİTAK) is the second organisation after the US to have developed and tested a High Power Laser CIWS prototype System which is intended to be used on the TF-2000 class frigate and on Turkish airborne systems.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

Template:Sister project