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Militarymedia.net - Each navy has its own preference for the adoption of a fast reaction canon - the Close In Weapon System (CIWS). Due to the dynamics and needs, there are times when the use of different types of CIWS canons, the South Korean Navy is rumored to be using the latest generation Phalanx CIWS canon for the Sejong Daewang Class (KDX III) batch II missile destroyer. What is unique is that the Sejong Daewang Class batch I, which consists of three destroyers, actually carries the CIWS Goalkeeper cannon made by Thales Nederland.
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on 1 December 2020 has given approval for the sale of two units of Phalanx Block 1B Baseline 2 (IB2) / MK 15 MOD 25 along with 4,000 20 mm armor-piercing incendiary (API) munitions to South Korea with a value of approx. US $ 39 million through the Foreign Military Sale (FMS) program.
Meanwhile, the agreement for spare parts, supporting equipment, software, training, technical technical assistance and other related elements is still awaiting approval from the US Congress. Because it only acquired two units, the procurement of the new Phalanx CIWS canon did not include an offset agreement or purchase return.
Between the Goalkeeper and the Phalanx are two types of CIWS canons with NATO standards that differ in the number of barrels and caliber. The Goalkeeper carries seven barrels with a caliber of 30 mm, the Phalanx carries six barrels with a caliber of 20 mm. Because it uses the Vulcan M61 Gatling Gun base canon which is widely used as an organic canon in US-made fighter jets, the Phalanx debut is indeed more popular than the Goalkeeper.
The South Korean Navy confirmed the order for the Sejong Daewang Class II batch on October 10, 2019, in which three additional units were ordered for the 11,000 tonne destroyer at the Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) shipyard. The first unit of KDX III batch II is planned to be handed over in November 2024.
At a glance, the Phalanx Block 1B Baseline 2, the canon produced by Raytheon Missile and Defense, is a form of refinement from the previous Phalanx generation, where this canon underwent a complete overhaul, starting from the barrel that carried the OGB (Optimized Gun Barrels) longer to achieve a higher firing range. far.
Then there is the FLIR (Forward Looking InfraRed) provision to be able to target targets on land. This brand-new Phalanx canon has also increased the elevation of the barrel so that it can be directed further downwards to target targets on the surface. The latter, that to target the target further down is based on the bad experience experienced by the US, namely in the case of the USS Cole explosion in Yemen.
Phalanx Block 1B Baseline 2 also carries the new MK224 munition which is targeted for the OGB barrel. This new generation Phalanx was first fully operational at the USS Taylor in September 2000. It has an effective firing range of 1,500 meters and a maximum range of 5,500 meters.
The rate of fire of this Phalanx reaches 4,500 projectiles per minute, or 75 projectiles per second and is reliable to intercept anti-ship missile attacks. The munitions in this canon were placed in a drum container containing 1,550 munitions.
As a close ally of the US, South Korea is certainly no stranger to operating the Phalanx canon. Previously, the Ginseng Country's navy had adopted Phalanx in the Daegu Class and Incheon Class frigates.
