Article Posted on : - Sep 13, 2011

Phalanx is a rapid-fire, computer-controlled radar and 20 mm gun system. Photo: Raytheon.

LONDON (BNS): The Republic of Korean Navy has given $65.5 million contract to Raytheon for the delivery of five Phalanx Block 1B Close-In Weapon Systems for its new Ulsan-1 class FFX ship programme.

According to the company, the direct commercial sale calls for the systems to be installed on the 2,300-ton frigate-class ships starting in April 2013, and represents Phalanx's largest sale to the ROK fleet.

"Phalanx is uniquely suited for the littoral environment in which the Korean fleet operates. With Phalanx on board, the South Korean fleet will have the best possible ship self-defence available," Rick Nelson, vice president of Raytheon Missile Systems' Naval Weapon Systems product line said.

Phalanx is a rapid-fire, computer-controlled radar and 20 mm gun system that automatically acquires, tracks and destroys enemy threats that have penetrated all other ship defence systems. More than 890 systems have been built and deployed in the navies of 25 nations.

The new FFX ship class will replace the current Ulsan and other smaller frigates from the Korean navy.