Phalanx/Centurion Gun Systems Contract Awarded

(Source: General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products; issued July 14, 2008)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. --- Raytheon Missile Systems of Louisville, Ky., has awarded General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products a $22 million contract to produce gun systems for the Phalanx Block 1B Close-In Weapon System and the Centurion Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System. General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products is a business unit of General Dynamics.

The Phalanx Block 1B Gun System is an upgrade of the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System. Phalanx is a fully autonomous, radar directed, rapid-fire 20 mm Gatling gun system that provides naval ships with the last line of defense against a variety of threats including anti-ship missiles, aircraft, high- speed water craft and other air and surface threats. The Phalanx Block 1B upgrade adds enhanced fire control capability, optimized gun barrels and an integrated Forward Looking Infrared system.

In the Centurion configuration, a Phalanx Block 1B system is mounted on a stabilized wheeled platform to protect ground forces and high-value sites against rocket, artillery and mortar threats. Currently deployed by the United States and United Kingdom in the Global War on Terror, Centurion has successfully intercepted and destroyed over 100 such threats.

"The Phalanx is the only deployed close-in weapon system capable of searching, tracking and engaging littoral warfare threats," said Jo Ann Kramer, senior program manager of gun systems for General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products.

More than 890 sea-based Phalanx systems have been built and deployed in the navies of 25 nations. Twenty-two Centurion systems have been delivered to the U.S. Army and another five have been delivered to the United Kingdom.