by Johnny Franks, Warrior Editorial Fellow
Why haven’t you heard about a recent missile attack on American sailors? The answer lies in the advanced defense systems and technology at play. In a tense moment that exemplifies the cutting-edge defensive capabilities of modern naval forces, the USS Gravely, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer of the US Navy, narrowly avoided being the target of a missile attack from Houthi forces in the Red Sea. The Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), a rapid-fire, radar-guided gun system, successfully intercepted and destroyed the incoming missile, preventing any damage to the ship and ensuring the safety of its crew.
This incident vividly highlights the critical role of the Phalanx CIWS in naval defense against contemporary threats. The missile was launched by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels and neutralized within just one nautical mile from the USS Gravely, causing the ship to deploy its Phalanx CIWS. This incident vividly highlights the critical role of the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) in naval defense against contemporary threats. This action represents a significant engagement, given the missile’s proximity and the potential consequences of a successful strike.
The Phalanx CIWS, often termed the last line of defense against anti-ship missiles and other close-in threats, is a marvel of military engineering. Developed by the General Dynamics Corporation and Raytheon for the United States Navy, the system features a 20mm M61 Vulcan Gatling gun, capable of firing over 4,500 rounds per minute, equipped with search and tracking radars and a computing system to automatically detect, track, and engage incoming threats. That the Houthi missile even approached the USS Gravely within striking distance underscores how evolving and multi-dimensional modern naval warfare truly is. What led to the inability of longer-range missiles and electronic countermeasures to strike at the range at which this missile was launched may be attributable to a number of factors, such as the missile’s flight profile, electronic countermeasures, or operational conditions at the time.
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The Phalanx CIWS’s employment in this case shows not only that it is a reliable last resort, but also a necessity in frontal engagements when other defensive measures are either unavailable or have failed. It further highlights the ongoing threats posed by naval forces to the Red Sea, where Houthi rebels have launched numerous attacks against commercial and military vessels. The engagements are not only real-time tests of the defensive systems, such as the Phalanx CIWS, but also stark reminders of the necessity of continuously modernizing and updating these technologies to keep up with evolving threats.
The incident reflects the broader strategic and tactical challenges faced by naval forces in today’s geopolitical environment. Over and above this, the lessons gained from such encounters will be pivotal in refining and enhancing defense mechanisms to effectively handle anticipated challenges in the future. The Phalanx CIWS, with its proven capabilities of carrying out autonomous search, detection, tracking, engagement, and kill assessment, remains an indispensable component of naval defense strategies that provide unqualified operational safety and readiness of naval vessels against divergent threats.
Johnny Franks holds an MA in U.S. Foreign Policy & National Security from American University and a BA in Diplomacy & World Affairs from Occidental College. With a specific interest in geopolitical security and military technology, Johnny has primarily focused his research and analysis on the Russia-Ukraine conflict from 2014 onwards. As part of his MA coursework, Johnny contributed to developing an Arctic defense strategy in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense
