Raytheon wins US Navy Phalanx and SeaRAM work

Raytheon will upgrade 19 Phalanx Close-in Weapon Systems and supply four SeaRAM Anti-ship Missile Defence Systems for the US Navy under a $136.2 million contract announced on 11 September.

In addition to upgrading the Phalanx systems, Raytheon will remanufacture and overhaul the rapid-fire, computer-controlled radar and 20 mm gun systems. Phalanx automatically acquires, tracks and destroys enemy threats that have penetrated all other ship defence systems.

SeaRAM enlarges Phalanx's keep-out range against evolving anti-ship missiles, rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft and other threats. It uses advanced Phalanx Block 1B sensors and replaces the gun with an 11-round Rolling Airframe Missile guide. SeaRAM is aboard the USS Independence (LCS 2) and USS Coronado (LCS 4).

Rick Nelson, vice president of Raytheon Missile Systems' Naval and Area Mission Defense product line, said: ‘Phalanx is a vital ship self-defence system, providing the critical inner-layer of protection to sailors, marines and ships. With SeaRAM comes a significant extension of that inner-layer battlespace and the capacity to effectively engage multiple high-performance threats.

‘Raytheon's ability to remanufacture Phalanx equivalent to new manufacture condition - in appearance, operation and performance - provides a significant cost savings to our customers.’

This contract includes a $94.8 million option for FY14 covering an additional 12 Phalanx and four SeaRAM systems. The option, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of the contract to $231 million.