Plate 034 · Autocannon · Modern

Phalanx CIWS

"R2-D2"

A radar-guided 20 mm Gatling — the last-ditch shipboard defence against missiles.

Phalanx CIWS — U.S. Navy photo, Public Domain — U.S. Navy photo, Public Domain · Public DomainView on Wikimedia Commons →

Historical Record

Provenance & Service

The Phalanx Close-In Weapon System mates a 20 mm M61 Vulcan Gatling gun to a self-contained Ku-band radar. From its first deployment aboard USS Coral Sea in 1980, it has served as the U.S. Navy's terminal defence against anti-ship missiles, firing up to 4,500 rounds per minute. Its distinctive white dome earned it the nickname 'R2-D2'.