RFA Argus recently reported the successful completion of its Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) trials.

The tests incorporated tracking capabilities and live firing at towed targets.

As conveyed by their official statement, “This was the final stage of getting the system fitted and operational.”

The Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) is a rapid-fire, computer-controlled radar and gun system designed to defend ships against a variety of threats, especially anti-ship missiles.

Manufactured by Raytheon, the system automatically detects, evaluates, tracks, and engages incoming threats, providing a last line of defence when other measures fail. RecogniSable by its distinct barrelled design, the Phalanx CIWS utilizes a 20 mm M61 Vulcan Gatling gun paired with radar-guidance technology to intercept and destroy incoming projectiles before they can strike their intended targets.

Since its introduction in the late 1970s, the system has been deployed on navies worldwide and has seen numerous upgrades to keep pace with evolving maritime threats.

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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57 COMMENTS

  2. So looks like Argus got this phalanx for Littoral tasking. Wiki has it that she is deploying in autumn as the south part. What she will go with is anyone’s guess. She’s doing training with apaches.

    • Assume for LRG(S)

      It is a concept that could work if we had better shipping for it, using Argus is a very poor substitute. However, we are not the USA to have a LPH sitting there with all the aviation aboard.

      I expect this whole thing to be binned once Labour are in power. Not necessarily the ships, but the LRG forward deployed concept.

      • With 2% GDP locked into defence, terrible programme management leaving multiple projects late and in the red, little to no prospect of an increase and the wider economy in massive debt, I certainly wouldn’t want to be in the hot seat come SDSR 2025…..

        Something big will have to give way to balance the books I fear…..

        Let’s hope Tempest isn’t stalked at night by the ghost of TSR2.

        If SDSR25 is timed to come out before Tempest main gate the same year, it won’t be good news…..

        • I think the Tempest programme is about to get into bed with those lovely reliable Saudi folks. They will bank roll it for a lion’s share of production as well as technological sharing.
          Looks like the main partner nations will lose control of the programme.
          You can bet your arse Sunak will sell it down the river.

          • Good afternoon Bell, I’m just worried about Saudis relationship with China and Russia. You never know when the later two might want to have a sneak peak at all Western weaponry they currently have. Probably already doing… and guess we’d be doing the same somewhere too! 😄

      • Phalanx is good looking, terrific in video. Though, efficiency is average, due to high bullet consumption nowhere near target, reload Time and limited range.
        I prefere the 40mm CTA gun UK and France developped. 3 shot per salvo, explosive ammunition, twice the range (4 km)
        The Otto Melarra 76 mm or 127mm are from point blank range to even longer range, more purpose… They can defeat fying, running, rolling or sailing threats… high rate of fire…

        • Or the Bofors 40mn we are buying for T31 with 3P ammo although I would stil fit Phalanx as well. As Ukraine is demonstrating almost daily with the growing impact of USV. it’s a no brainer to me.

        • Phalanx comes with an auto reloader. Once the reload is in the mount you reload the reloader(!) It’s a lot lot quicker to reload than it used to be. You have around 900 rnds on mount and a full reload ready to go plus ammo in the lockers ready to reload the reloader…

          Phalanx is everything on mount with minimal ships services only needing 440v and sea water for cooling and the local control console nearby. Stick it in auto and it will shoot on its own without user input at anything that it considers a threat. Thats a good thing to have when you take damage.

          With the other systems you named you add complexity off mount. You need a search radar, IFF, command system, data highway, command console, tracking system (radar or EO), possibly Chilled water cooling, 440v (3 phase), 115v (3 phase, single phase, 400hz). 24v DC, LP Air (Wave Guide drying), Gyro system input, Wind Speed and direction input, compartments to put everything in, crew to man all the bits. Magazine depth on a CTA or OTO is nowhere near a phalanx and they still need reloading onto the feed system. So machinery to bring rounds from the deep mag to the gun bay and more people to man it.

          The only plus is range. However, if one of the above systems goes tits up then its range does not matter because you cannot see the inbound threat to begin with to start the engagement.

          Weapon systems are all about system engineering and how individual systems are required to make everything else work.

          Wind Speed and Direction anemometers. A small unobtrusive bit of kit on the mast that nobody really worries about (Except Weapon Engineers!). In the analogue versions a couple of cups rotating in the breeze to give speed and a vane to give you direction. The digital version has no moving parts. However, if it stops working…
          No inputs for Gunnery which reduces first round hit accuracy
          No auto function on EW Chaff decoy firing
          No input for Helo ops slowing down launch times for the helo.

          All that from a couple of little cups and a vane sat on a yard arm …which phalanx doesnt need…

      • In perun latest YouTube video on nato spending the U.K. was one of the few nations to actually shrink its defence budget. So embarrassing 🙈

    • Im not at all sold on this LRG concept. It seems to me to be a ‘What can we make out of what we have left over after CSG and that sounds fighty?’ formation.

      So the plan is to team Argus up with an Albion and at least one Escort? LRG 2020/2021 had a Type 45 only i believe? Guessing ASW not such an issue in the Littorals.

      • Not quite.

        LRS(N) that being the UK based, Norway, Baltic centric group has the LPD plus Bay plus escort, plus what RM are assigned.

        LRS(S) has Argus, and possibly a Bay, unsure still. Plus the escort and RM assigned. Assume Vanguard Coy RM.

        One of the Bays is still mother to the MCM force in the Gulf. It’s hoped that as more MCMV mother vessels arrive ( like Stirling Castle ) then one can go there and that Bay can be released to it’s core task.

        Really, the cut of the 4th Bay was one of the most imbecilic decisions of the 2010 SDSR.

        Ideally each LRG would have an LPD plus a Bay, plys its own helicopters assigned, but with the Albions rotated, and currently we don’t even have one available, then we have this sub optimal set up.

        If necessary both LRG can combine to form a LSG, Littoral Strike Group, more akin to our old ARG plus a carrier added as required, to be fair a powerful capability.

        As it is, though I supported the idea, I’m wondering if the LRG idea should just be merged into one ARG, UK based, and deployed forth every few years like the Carrier group. The available assets are so thin, without adding the need for a helicopter det and more modern boats and craft to replace the LCVPs. I’ve read all are planned within FCF but no real concrete movement I can see.

        No idea if the MRSS will arrive either, and getting rid of Hercules, delaying the ER Chinooks and reducing the FMH also impact the wider GRF, if which I believe the LRGs are meant to be the forward element.

        The LRG idea was to have assets already in theatre ready to respond. Well, cannot the GRF react to world events, with any forward enduring presence provided by assets going to Cyprus, Oman, and Diego Garcia as required.

        • Thanks for the explanation. Seems like the LRG would be considerably more potent as a joint venture with for example the Dutch, Danish or Norwegians (Marines, escorts and naval air assets). Although i daresay they wouldn’t be interested in the South deployment.

          Or even in a pinch we could help the Germans spend some of that nice juicy defence windfall that they’ve just had on amphibious assets?

          • To me, it needs to be done properly. We have other world interests and overseas territories they do not.

        • Morning Daniele, just to make you feel even worse i’ll try and get a photo of HMAS Choules sitting in Sydney harbour here. Maybe the UK can buy it back when the RAN no longer needs it?

          • The RAN love its flexibility. The OEMs who look after the UK units also have an input into the RAN one. They want it to stay if for no other reason than they get to go to Oz now and again!

          • It’s been painted a different shade grey. It’s BAE and Babcock isn’t it? Hopefully the CSG 2025 pays Sydney a visit and you can get a gig!

        • The amphib deployments did happen via Taurus and Cougar deployments. They seem to have died a death.

          Regarding the Bays. Yep madness to get rid of the 4th one. The remaining ones are doing some hard work now on systems and maintainability to ensure that there are plenty of years left for them to run on in. They are in a good condition so expect them to be extended in service life as a one for one replacement is not needed anytime soon.

    • Plenty of well-built big ships able to get to the big 50. As long as obsolescence is professionally managed with system upgrades, the hull steel and pipework is the easy bit to keep going.

  4. Always wait until you here the vocal report “Aircraft Overhead” before flicking the safe/arm switch…otherwise it might get a bit embarrassing.

      • Think it’ll need another phalanx forward or 30mm as aren’t the 20mm getting withdrawn from service? Like to see some POD containerised CAMM developed that could then be deployed across the RFA fleet and even the Rivers and Carriers if needed or wanted.

        • Not really a place for a forward Phalanx but the 20’s could be replaced with the 30’s in time. Still used on the Batch 1 Rivers for now. A quick fit SAM system would be good too as you say to enhance their self defence which could also be for STUFT.

          • PODS – CAMM would be the thing. Does ARGUS have a good enough radar and CMS to handle that. The Air Traffic Control Radar is fine and I *think* the CMS was upgraded to make it comparable with the Albions for training commonality purposes.

          • There was an illustration of what looked like this with one of the BAE T32 articles. It had quite a few CAMM like missiles poking through its roof. Sort of thing that could go on a trailer, truck and rail, and even be part of a land base system.

        • Been working on US Lewis and Clarke ships and their Expeditionary Support Base ships of late. Big old 40K ton units.
          No phalanx
          No RAM
          No 30mm
          No 20mm

          50 cals and 7.62 guns only…Just saying…

          • Hi GB, too much fresh air for my liking! With drones, loitering munitions floating around these days. It seems a bit risky, especially if in Port or coastal waters. I suppose there would be electronic and other non-kinetic ways of dealing with drones

      • Showing my age now trained on GAMBO”s in 83 replacing 20mm 7 Alpha the same decade Argus came into service The RFAs sure do keep going still think HMS Ocean should of been kept for marine ops Angus

        • Showing your age …guess how I feel!
          Ignoring the air weapons bits and sonar stuff, I trained and shot on 7A, GAM B01, both sorts of 40mm (Electric and hydraulic mounts) in 82/83. Later years 4.5 Mk6 and Mk 8, Twin 30, Single 30( KCM and Bushmaster), Phalanx gun, Goalkeeper Gun, OTO 76, 3 in Decoys, SRBOC, Sea Gnat, Barricade (!), every small arm the RN operated and some only Royal and others have.

  7. I always thought that the plus point for the RFA, was due to not being “armed”, they were allowed access to “neutral” ports etc. Does fitting Phalanx onto their vessels have any changes to this ?
    Just trying to seek clarity for my own understanding.

    • I think they have always been regarded as legitimate military targets in wartime Mark. While the RFA was always in support of the sharp end, the reality is today, that the RFA and RN have effectively merged into a single force, in all but name, such are the demands on the RN, with its ever shrinking force structure.

    • With you on that Mark , RFA crews were paid extra for being in an active OP zone with RN crews if weapons were fitted who worked alongside the RFA crew it now seems RFA and RN personnel crew RFA vessels such as Argus

  8. Going to throw a contradictory comment into the mix here (because that’s how life works)

    I’m not in favour of re-rolling RFA Argus into a LSS. She’s our only PCRS, and commiting her permanently to another role, and refitting her in a way that will almost certainly compromise that role, is a silly thing to do.

    On the other hand: It goes to show the advantage of not having Argus be a registered hospital ship, because if we’d have done that she’d never be able to re-roll into the LSS role.

    • Remember seeing Argus during OP Granby all kitted and fitted as a Hospital ship now too be Armed with Phalanx all medical equipment theatre, wards must of been removed now that she’s a forward operating LSS Dern

      • She’s not a hospital ship, she’s a Primary Casualty Recieving Ship, and thus under the rules of war can be armed. Adding Phalanx in no way means she can’t have medical equipment on board.

        The rules around the use of hospital ships and red cross signage means that once an asset is sign posted as a hospital it can never be used for anything else. This is also why RAF Chinooks with MERT teams on board never where marked with a Red Cross (and note, the MERT team did not mean that the Chinooks couldn’t have a rear door gunner on them).

        I doubt the hospital will be fully stripped out. The Ward will definitely stay IMO, but maybe some role 3 specialist equipment will be turned into “installed when needed” if the Role 3 won’t be fully manned at all times.

  9. The lack of official info is becoming very odd, but Argus seems set for a multi-year forward deployment to Duqm in Oman. There, she will regularly embark a company from 40 Commando (and/or Dutch Marines) and a few helo’s from CHF for exercises with our regional allies. Also available as a hospital ship in the event of natural disaster in the Indo-Pacific region. A bargain basement addition to Global Britain.

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