Defence Update

Additional Phalanx Ciws Acquisition Limited by Funding Restraints

The fitting of the General Dynamics Phalanx close-in weapons system (CIWS) to major Royal Australian Navy ships for last-ditch protection against modern anti-shipping missiles is in train for the FFG patrol frigates, but waiting its turn for the fleet replenishment ship HMAS Success, the destroyer tender, HMAS Stalwart and the amphibious assault ship HMAS Tobruk, amid the backlog of priorities with other Defence and Navy procurement bids. In effect, as far as the Navy is concerned, the cost per amount of $7. 5 million is competing for funds with other projects, including some big ones like the new conventional submarines and the Australian-built frigates.

Government approval for the acquisition of two Phalanx systems from the US was first announced by the then Defence Minister, Mr Ian Sinclair, in July 1982. The intention was to retrofit them to the Navy’s first two guided missile frigates, HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Canberra. Phalanx, a rapid-fire radar-directed, computer-controlled gun system, was not available when these ships were ordered.

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