Iran’s Home-grown Phalanx Version Undergoing Tests

Iran’s home-grown version of Phalanx, a close-in weapon system (CIWS) used for defense against anti-ship missiles is undergoing tests.

“It [CIWS] has not been delivered to the navy since the system is in testing phases,” Rear Admiral Mahmoud Mousavi was quoted as saying by Tasnim News Agency last Saturday.

Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari had unveiled plans for manufacturing the homegrown version of Phalanx in 2015.

Consisting of a radar-guided Gatling gun mounted on a swiveling base, the Phalanx has been used by multiple navies around the world, notably by the US Navy on every class of surface combat ship.

Iranian experts have already produced a powerful Gatling gun, dubbed ‘Moharram’.

The six-barrel weapon is a 50 caliber firearm with the high rate of fire of 2,000-2,500 rounds per minute.

The fast machine gun can be mounted on a broad range of military vehicles, choppers, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), warships and destroyers.