U.S. Navy Awards $205M Contract to Raytheon for Phalanx Weapon System Upgrades

Raytheon has received a $205 million modification contract for the U.S. Navy’s MK 15 Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), according to the U.S. Department of War.

The deal includes upgrades, conversions, overhauls, and related equipment. Work is scheduled to be completed by January 2029.

The Phalanx CIWS serves as the navy’s last line of defense against anti-ship missiles, aircraft, and littoral threats that bypass other fleet defenses. It remains the only deployed close-in weapon system capable of independently conducting its own search, detection, tracking, and kill assessment.

First deployed in 1980 aboard USS Coral Sea, the Phalanx system has undergone several upgrades: Block 1 in 1988 aboard USS Wisconsin and Block 1B in 1999 aboard USS Underwood.

The Block 1B variant adds a stabilized electro-optic sensor, enabling the system to counter asymmetric threats such as fast surface craft, helicopters, and drones. It weighs 13,600 pounds (6,120 kg) and employs an M-61A1 Gatling gun firing 20mm armor-piercing discarding sabot rounds. It can fire up to 4,500 rounds per minute against missiles and aircraft, and 3,000 rounds per minute against asymmetric threats, with a magazine capacity of 1,550 rounds.