The Pentagon has awarded Raytheon a $205 million contract modification to continue upgrades and maintenance of the MK 15 Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), the company announced on Monday.
The work includes conversions, overhauls, and support equipment, with most performed in Louisville, Kentucky, and smaller portions at sites across the U.S. and in Ottobrunn, Germany. Completion is scheduled for January 2029.
The Phalanx CIWS, first deployed in 1980 aboard the USS Coral Sea, is a rapid-fire, computer-controlled Gatling gun system designed to intercept incoming missiles, aircraft, and fast surface craft.
Weighing 13,600 pounds, it can fire up to 4,500 20mm rounds per minute.
The Navy has upgraded the system over time. The Block 1B, now the standard version, adds optical and infrared sensors to improve targeting of drones, helicopters, and small boats.
“Phalanx is our Navy’s last line of defence, expertly designed to protect our sailors from the threats they face every day,” said Barbara Borgonovi, president of Raytheon Naval Power. “Securing this contract underscores the trust the U.S. Navy places in an absolutely critical system.”
The system is installed across all classes of U.S. Navy warships and fielded by 24 allied nations. In January 2024, the USS Gravely used its Phalanx system to intercept a Houthi missile in the Red Sea.
