Optimizing Phalanx Weapon System Life-Cycle Support
Abstract
The Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) was built as a terminal defense against current and evolving antiship missiles and aircraft which penetrate outer fleet air defense envelopes. CIWS is a fast-reaction, rapid-fire, computer-controlled system with radar and Gatling gun. It is equipped to search, provide detection, threat evaluation, target acquisition, tracking, firing, target destruction evaluation, automatic kill assessment, and cease-fire data to control train, elevation, and discharge of the weapon. Thus, CIWS is a complex device which engages in multiple functions often performed by separate and independent systems. Since 1980, the CIWS system has undergone multiple overhauls. Decreasing operational availability, escalating costs, and inadequate funding prompted the Phalanx Program Office to examine the condition of the system. A comprehensive study was needed to look at all aspects of the Phalanx program and suggest areas that need further investigation. The goal of this report is to provide recommendations to optimize the life-cycle support of the Phalanx weapon system. The report is arranged as follows: Section II gives an overview of the status of the weapon system and discusses financial and operational performance drivers and their interrelationships; Section 3 sets forth recommendations on how to improve the system using initiatives that are already in place and proposes research that could help certain facets of the program; and Section 4 describes specific research studies recommended for CIWS in the future.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA498752
Entities
People
- Aruna U. Apte
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School