Centurion C-RAM
Centurion C-RAMMain article: Counter-RAM
Seeking a solution to constant rocket and mortar attacks on bases in Iraq, the United States Army requested a quick-to-field anti-projectile system in May 2004, as part of its Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar initiative.[21] The end result of this program was 'Centurion'. For all intents and purposes a terrestrial version of the Navy's CIWS, the Centurion was rapidly developed,[22] with a proof of concept test in November that same year. It began deployment to Iraq in 2005,[21][23] where it was set up to protect forward operating bases and other high-value sites in and around the capital, Baghdad.[24] Israel has purchased a single system for testing purposes, and is reported[25] to be considering buying the system to counter rocket attacks and defend point military installations. Investments made in their own indigenous air defence system, Iron Dome, has provided competition to Centurion.[25][26]
Each system consists of a modified Phalanx 1B CIWS, powered by an attached generator and mounted on a trailer for mobility. Armed with a 20 mm M61A1 Gatling gun the unit is capable of firing 1,500 or 2,000 M246 or M940 rounds per minute.[6][27] In 2008 there were more than twenty CIWS systems protecting bases in the U.S. Central Command area of operations. A Raytheon spokesman told Navy Times that 105 attacks were defeated by the systems, most of those involved mortars. Based on the success of Centurion, 23 additional systems were ordered in September 2008.[28]
Like the naval (1B) version, Centurion uses Ku-band radar and FLIR[29] to detect and track incoming projectiles, and is also capable of engaging surface targets, with the system able to reach a -25 degree elevation.[29] The Centurion is reportedly capable of defending a 1.2 km square area.[30] One major difference between the land and sea based variants is the choice of ammunition. Whereas naval Phalanx systems fire tungsten armor-piercing rounds, the C-RAM uses the M246 or M940 HEIT-SD (High-Explosive Incendiary Tracer, Self-Destruct) ammunition, originally developed for the M163 Vulcan Air Defense System.[22][31] These rounds explode on impact with the target, or upon tracer burnout, thereby greatly reducing the risk of collateral damage, should any rounds fail to hit their target.[22][31]
[edit] SeaRam
SeaRAMUtilising the armament of the RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile, and based on the mounting and targeting systems of the Phalanx, SeaRAM was developed in response to concerns about the performance of gun-based systems against modern, super-sonic sea-skimming anti-ship missiles. Designed as a companion self-defense system to Phalanx,[32] the SeaRAM is equipped with an 11 cell RAM launcher, and provides defense at a longer range. Due to the common mounting, SeaRAM inherits the relatively easy installation characteristics of its gun-based sibling, with Raytheon stating that "[SeaRAM] fits the exact shipboard installation footprint of the Phalanx, uses the same power and requires minimal shipboard modification".[32] Currently in the trial stages, SeaRAM is fitted to the Independence Class Littoral Combat Ship.[32]
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