CIWS Mods

The Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) Mods program is a critical component of the Navy's ship self-defense strategy, focusing on the modernization and sustainment of the Phalanx CIWS and its associated configurations. The primary goal of this budget line item is to ensure that CIWS-equipped vessels maintain effective terminal defense against anti-ship missiles, high-speed aircraft, and emerging asymmetric threats such as small surface craft and unmanned aerial vehicles. The program supports both hardware procurement and system modifications to address obsolescence, reliability, and safety requirements across the fleet, including U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships, trainers, and engineering development modules.

The CIWS Block 1B Baseline 2 Radar Upgrades line specifically funds the procurement and installation of digital radar upgrade kits for various ship classes, including cruisers, carriers, destroyers, amphibious ships, and cutters. The objective is to replace legacy analog radar components with advanced commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) digital signal processing and low-noise signal sources. This upgrade increases radar sensitivity, expands Doppler coverage for improved detection and tracking of advanced anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs) and asymmetric threats, and enhances overall system reliability. Additionally, it reduces sailor maintenance hours and mitigates obsolescence of numerous analog components.

The CIWS Block 1B (Phalanx CIWS Block 1) line item encompasses the conversion and upgrade of existing mounts to the Block 1B configuration. This includes the integration of a thermal imager, automatic acquisition video tracker, and stabilization system, which collectively improve the system's ability to counter small, high-speed surface threats and slow-moving aerial targets. The budget also covers installation support activities such as ship checks, drawing development, on-site technical support, and record updates. SeaRAM installations for Rota-based destroyers are also included, enhancing missile defense capabilities in forward-deployed locations.

The MK 15 MOD 40 CIWS RAM Defense Capability (CRDC) configuration is fielded aboard select Nimitz-class carriers, providing a fast-reaction, computer-controlled radar system that employs Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) for anti-ship missile defense. The latest RAM Block 2B variant, supported by this budget, features an advanced infrared seeker and missile-to-missile link for defending against highly maneuverable ASCMs and complex raid attacks. The CRDC upgrades maintain proven capabilities such as terminal guidance, lethality, and post-launch fire-and-forget operation, while addressing reliability and obsolescence in sensor components.

Key objectives for FY 2025 and FY 2026 include the procurement of corrective action and reliability ordnance alterations (ORDALTs) for the MK 15 MOD 40 CRDC sensor, as well as continued procurement for the Gun Ammo Handling System (GAHS) and Electronic Gun Drive (E-Gun) ORDALTs. The GAHS ORDALT introduces improved materials and design to reduce ammo handling jams and increase operational availability. The E-Gun ORDALT replaces pneumatic drive components with an electric system, improving fire rate control, reducing maintenance, and increasing reliability by eliminating high-failure parts. CRDC sensor reliability kits, including upgrades to the Linear Oscillator and Transformer Rectifier Unit, are scheduled to begin procurement in FY 2026.

Raytheon Company, based in Louisville, KY, is the primary manufacturer for both radar upgrades and Block 1B conversions, with production lead times ranging from 12 to 26 months depending on the modification. Installations are coordinated with ship maintenance availability schedules to minimize operational disruption. The program's funding profile reflects a focus on recurring hardware costs, non-recurring installation expenses, and ongoing support for system sustainment and modernization.