US Navy ships to get 13,600-lb robot guns firing 75 bullets a second

The US Navy continues to rely heavily on the MK 15 Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), a 13,600-pound autonomous robot gun platform designed to defend warships against incoming missiles, aircraft, and asymmetric threats such as fast surface craft and drones. Raytheon recently secured a $205 million contract modification to upgrade and maintain the Phalanx system through January 2029. Since its introduction in 1980, the Phalanx has undergone continuous modernization, with the latest Block 1B variant featuring enhanced radar and electro-optical sensors, enabling it to independently detect, track, engage, and assess kills without external input. The Phalanx mounts an M61A1 Vulcan Gatling gun capable of firing up to 4,500 rounds per minute against missiles and aircraft, or 3,000 rounds per minute against smaller targets, with magazines holding 1,550 rounds each. Its radar-directed, detect-through-engage capability allows it to operate effectively