The Counter-Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) system is the land version of the Phalanx 1B Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) which is mounted on ships and manufactured by the US defence contractor Raytheon. The Greek Navy is also a user of the Phalanx system, on “MEKO – HN200” and “S” type frigates.

© Raytheon

The system consists of a six-barrel Gatling M61A1 Vulcan machine gun, radar, FLIR (Forward-Looking Infrared Sensor) and a computer. It has the ability to launch 4,500 20mm HEIT-SD (high-explosive incendiary tracer, self-destruct) projectiles / minute and intercept at distances of up to 3.5 Km flying targets such as helicopters, UAVs and missiles, as well as rockets and indirect fire projectiles such as mortar shells. The main difference from the Phalanx 1B CIWS is that it does not use armor piercing tungsten projectiles to reduce the risk of possible collateral damage on the ground.

© Raytheon

C-RAM is mounted on a trailer platform and can be fired remotely. When a threat is detected, the weapon system has the ability to evaluate and accordingly, engage the target while using sound warning signals.

This system has been developed by the US Army in Afghanistan and Iraq to protect its forwarded units. See the video below depicting the capabilities of the system (Gatling gun sound and trajectory flashes are hallmarks of the system).

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