The Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System (LPWS) is part of the Air Defense Artillery (ADA) within the Department of the Army. In this paper, I will lay out a brief timeline for the LPWS from its concept in the US Navy to its employment overseas with the US Army, known as the C-RAM. I will also discuss the development of the LPWS and its impact on the US Military and its mission overseas.
The idea and concept of the LPWS first began in the US Navy on 21 October 1967 during the 'Six-Day War' between Egypt and Israel. The United States (US) was not part of the 'Six-Day War', but had a great interest in the outcome of that war. The top individuals of the US Navy analyzed the conflict (mainly its outcome) and realized that the US did not have any defense against the possible and highly likely threat of missiles directed at their ships. The answer to this threat was known as the Close-In Weapons System (CIWS), with the first prototype completed in the first half of 1968 with a range of approximately 10-16 miles the US Navy could breathe a breath of fresh air. The concept was a missile-based design that was known as the Basic Point Defense Missile System (BPDMS). After multiple years of the BPDMS success on US Navy vessels, the system was updated and improved in 1973. With this new air defense system and the ever-evolving wars to be fought, the US Navy began to quickly update and modify its system.
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In 1973, a prototype with a whole new shape and function altogether was brought to light. The old missile-based weapon system was upgraded to the Vulcan-Phalanx Gatling gun weapon system. During the testing phase of the new M163 Vulcan Air Defense System (VADS) was put to the test with several different types of air-to-ground missiles as well as multiple levels of jamming frequencies that were being fired at the ship. The results and outcomes of all of these tests were that few if any missiles were able to get past the system targeting and engaging software. The other test on the system was to test to see if it could be able to accurately distinguish between the jamming noise and incoming missiles quickly, it succeeded. With the conclusion favorable to the US Navy, they began to install the newer system on multiple ships. With the success of the CIWS and the VADS, the US Army began their projects trying to incorporate the concept with their own twist of utilizing this weapon system to their advantage.
The US Army saw great potential in the weapon system, so they began to produce vehicles that could have the VADS mounted in 1988. The US Army continuously improved and upgraded the VADS until it went into full operation during the early phases of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and later in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). The US Army developed and deployed the land-based Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar (C-RAM). With the idea and understanding of how war is always changing and evolving, the US Army saw endless possibilities for the weapon system, so they began to train more soldiers on the C-RAM.
The first employment of the land-based C-RAM began in approximately 2004 in Iraq (OIF) and later in Afghanistan (OEF). The idea and concept of the land-based system were to protect ground troops from any indirect fire that they may encounter while pushing the frontlines. While employed in both forward combat zones (OIF and OEF), the C-RAM has been accredited with over 2,500 early warnings and successful engagements of indirect fire. While forward deployed, the C-RAM had approximately a 70 percent success rate at engaging incoming targets. Due to the need for an upgraded system, the C-RAM was upgraded to the Phalanx 1B (still known as the C-RAM). The Phalanx 1B was previously only mounted on US ships as a last-chance defense against incoming missiles or rockets. With all of its new upgrades, the Phalanx 1B now had the capability to identify, track, intercept, and destroy incoming threats all while minimizing the collateral damage to the surrounding area that its predecessor did not have the ability to compute. The C-RAM has been tried and tested, and with it continuously passing all expectations, the C-RAM is still being utilized today.
The C-RAM is still effectively being employed today on the battlefield as well as on US Navy ships with the same mission from when it was first designed. However, not only is the C-RAM on the battlefield but it is also being employed worldwide, including within the United States, to ensure all US assets and interests are protected 24/7. With the success rate of the C-RAM and the reputation it has acquired, multiple US allies have bought and are currently employing their own versions of the C-RAM. The best example of the C-RAM’s effectiveness is the employment in Israel with the 'Iron Dome'. If you were curious, you could do a quick search on the Internet of the 'Iron Dome', and multiple video/news outlets from across the globe will show the system in action and the result speaks for themselves.
Summing up, the original C-RAM was created as a necessary need to defend US Navy ships after it was assessed that they did not have the proper defenses. With this new technology introduced to the US Military, the US Army took the system and converted it in a way to protect its soldiers on the ground and neutralize the enemy’s capabilities of indirect fire on US ground forces. The US Army’s decision to adapt the C-RAM concept was proven to be highly effective saving countless lives on the battlefield when the C-RAM is credited with over 2,500 successful engagements of indirect fire. As it did in 1967, the C-RAM concept is still a very much needed and highly favorable asset both on the battlefield and at sea.
References
- Global Security. (n.d.). Counter Rocket, Artillery, Mortar. GlobalSecurity. Retrieved August 30, 2020, from https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/cram.htm
- Stoner, R. H. S. (2009, October 30). R2D2 with Attitude: The Story of the Phalanx Close-In Weapons. NavWeaps. http://www.navweaps.com/index_tech/tech-103php#Phalanx_as_a_Land-Based_Weapon_Systems
- U.S. - Air Defense, Intercept, Intercept Missile Defense. (2018, November). Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar. Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance. https://missiledefenseadvocacy.org/defense-systems/couter-rocket-artillery-mortar-c-ram
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