September 1, 2007: The
U.S. Navy Phalanx system was originally designed to protect warships from
anti-ship missiles. But now it is being modified to support the war on terror.
As originally designed,
you turned Phalanx on whenever the ship was likely to have an anti-ship missile
fired at it. The Phalanx radar can spot incoming missiles out to about 5,000
meters, and the 20mm cannon is effective out to about 2,000 meters. With
incoming missiles moving a up to several hundred meters a second, you can see why
Phalanx is set to automatic. There's not much time for human intervention,
which is why the Phalanx has to be turned on and set to automatically detect
and shoot at incoming missiles.
But since 2003, there have
been two major Phalanx mods. In one, the Phalanx was adapted to use on land,
against rocket attacks. Using a larger artillery spotting radar, Phalanx
directs its fire at incoming mortar shells and rockets. Not all the incoming
stuff is hit, but a lot of it is, and every little bit helps. The second mod is
for shipboard use, and changes the software so the Phalanx can be used against
small boats, especially those of the suicide bomber variety.
Israel is looking at the
anti-rocket version, considering it for use to defend northern Israel against
another Hizbollah rocket attack. There are nearly 900 Phalanx systems in use,
most have not gotten these mods.
