A close-in weapon system (CIWS ) is a point-defense weapon system for detecting and destroying short-range incoming

missile A missile is an airborne ranged weapon capable of self-propelled flight aided usually by a propellant, jet engine or rocket motor. Historically, 'missile' referred to any projectile that is thrown, shot or propelled towards a target; this ...

s and enemy aircraft which have penetrated the outer defenses, typically mounted on a

naval A navy, naval force, military maritime fleet, war navy, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operatio ...

ship. Nearly all classes of larger modern

warship A warship or combatant ship is a naval ship that is used for naval warfare. Usually they belong to the navy branch of the armed forces of a nation, though they have also been operated by individuals, cooperatives and corporations. As well as b ...

s are equipped with some kind of CIWS device. There are two types of CIWS systems. A gun-based CIWS usually consists of a combination of

radar Radar is a system that uses radio waves to determine the distance ('' ranging''), direction ( azimuth and elevation angles), and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It is a radiodetermination method used to detect and track ...

s, computers, and rapid-firing multiple-barrel rotary cannons placed on a rotating

turret Turret may refer to: * Turret (architecture), a small tower that projects above the wall of a building * Gun turret, a mechanism of a projectile-firing weapon * Optical microscope#Objective turret (revolver or revolving nose piece), Objective turre ...

. Missile-based CIWSs use either infra-red, passive radar/ ESM, or

semi-active radar Semi-active radar homing (SARH) is a common type of missile guidance system, perhaps the most common type for longer-range Air-to-air missile, air-to-air and surface-to-air missile systems. The name refers to the fact that the missile itself is o ...

terminal guidance to guide missiles to the targeted enemy aircraft or other threats. In some cases, CIWS are used on land to protect military bases. In this case, the CIWS can also protect the base from shell and rocket fire.

Gun systems

A Phalanx CIWS and ASELSAN STOP on the fore-starboard side of TCG Anadolu

A gun-based CIWS usually consists of a combination of radars, computers and rotary or

revolver A revolver is a repeating handgun with at least one barrel and a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers (each holding a single cartridge) for firing. Because most revolver models hold six cartridges before needing to be reloaded, ...

cannon placed on a rotating, automatically aimed gun mount. Examples of gun-based CIWS products in operation are: * AK-630, 630M, 306, 630M1-2, and 630M2 - 30×165mm caliber * Aselsan GOKDENIZ and GOKDENIZ ER - 35×228mm * DARDO and Fast Forty - 40×365mmR * Denel 35mm Dual Purpose Gun - 35×228mm * Goalkeeper CIWS - 30×173mm * Kashtan CIWS and M variant - 30×165mm * Mauser BK-27 - 27×145mm * Meroka CIWS - 20×128mm *

Myriad CIWS Myriad CIWS was a twin 7 gun barrel, barrelled, 25 mm rotary cannon-style CIWS developed by a consortium including OTO Melara. The system's primary purpose, had it ever gone into production, would have been defense against anti-ship missiles, ...

- 25×184mm * PIT-Radwar OSU-35K - 35×228mm * Rheinmetall Oerlikon Millennium Gun - 35×228mm * Rheinmetall Sea Snake 30 mm - 30×173mm * Phalanx CIWS Block 0, 1, 1A, and 1B - 20×102mm * Sea Zenith - 25×184mm * H/PJ-76A - 37×240mm * Type 730 and

Type 1130 The Type 730 is a Chinese seven-barrelled 30 mm Rotary cannon, Gatling gun/rotary cannon CIWS. It has a PLA Navy designation H/PJ12. It is mounted in an enclosed automatic turret and directed by radar, and electro-optical tracking systems. ...

CIWS - 30×165mm * Pantsir-M - 30×165mm

Limitations of gun systems

CIWS systems are short range: the maximum effective range of gun systems is about ; systems with lighter projectiles have even shorter range. The expected real-world kill-distance of an incoming anti-ship missile is about or less, still close enough to cause damage to the ship's sensor or communication arrays, or to wound or kill exposed personnel. Thus some CIWS like Russian Kashtan and Pantsir systems are augmented by installing the close range

surface-to-air missile A surface-to-air missile (SAM), also known as a ground-to-air missile (GTAM) or surface-to-air guided weapon (SAGW), is a missile designed to be launched from the ground or the sea to destroy aircraft or other missiles. It is one type of anti-ai ...

s on the same mounting for increased tactical flexibility. They have a limited kill probability compared to other antiair guns. Even if the missile is hit and damaged, this may not be enough to destroy it entirely or to alter its course. Even in the case of a direct hit, the missile or fragments from it may still impact the intended target, particularly if the final interception distance is short. This is especially true if the gun fires kinetic-energy-only projectiles.

Comparison table

Missile systems

A missile-based CIWS comprises a combination of radars and computers connected to either a rotating, automatically aimed launcher mount or vertical launching system. Examples of missile-based CIWS in operational service are: * 9M337 Sosna-R * HQ-10 / FL-3000N * Pantsir-M missile system * RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile * Sea Oryx * Tor missile system

Land-based

CIWS are also used on land in the form of Pantsir and C-RAM. On a smaller scale, '' active protection systems'' are used in some

tank A tank is an armoured fighting vehicle intended as a primary offensive weapon in front-line ground combat. Tank designs are a balance of heavy firepower, strong armour, and battlefield mobility provided by tracks and a powerful engine; ...

s (to destroy rocket propelled grenades (RPGs), and several are in development. The Drozd system was deployed on Soviet Naval Infantry tanks in the early 1980s, but later replaced by explosive reactive armour. Other systems that are available or under development are the Russian

Arena An arena is a large enclosed venue, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, Music, musical performances or Sport, sporting events. It comprises a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for specta ...

, Israeli

Trophy A trophy is a tangible, decorative item used to remind of a specific achievement, serving as recognition or evidence of merit. Trophies are most commonly awarded for sports, sporting events, ranging from youth sports to professional level athlet ...

, American Quick Kill and South African-Swedish LEDS-150.

Laser systems

Laser-based CIWS systems are being researched. In August 2014 an operational prototype was deployed to the Persian Gulf aboard . The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey ( Turkish: ''Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu'', TÜBİTAK) is the second organisation after the US to have developed and tested a High Power Laser CIWS prototype System which is intended to be used on the TF-2000 class frigate and on Turkish airborne systems.

References

{{commons category, Close-in weapon system * Anti-aircraft guns Naval anti-aircraft guns Naval surface-to-air missiles Weapons countermeasures