Raytheon Missile Systems has awarded General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products a $22 million contract to produce gun systems for the Phalanx Block 1B Close-In Weapon System and the Centurion Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System.

The Phalanx Block 1B Gun System is an upgrade of the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System. Phalanx is a fully autonomous, radar directed, rapid-fire 20 mm Gatling gun system that provides naval ships with the last line of defense against a variety of threats including anti-ship missiles, aircraft, high- speed water craft and other air and surface threats. The Phalanx Block 1B upgrade adds enhanced fire control capability, optimized gun barrels and an integrated Forward Looking Infrared system.

In the Centurion configuration, a Phalanx Block 1B system is mounted on a stabilized wheeled platform to protect ground forces and high-value sites against rocket, artillery and mortar threats. Currently deployed by the United States and United Kingdom in the Global War on Terror, Centurion has successfully intercepted and destroyed over 100 such threats.

More than 890 sea-based Phalanx systems have been built and deployed in the navies of 25 nations. Twenty-two Centurion systems have been delivered to the U.S. Army and another five have been delivered to the United Kingdom.

General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products’ Saco facility is the company’s core manufacturing location for single- and multi-barrel aircraft and crew-served weapon systems. The site provides complete production capabilities, from design and development to manufacturing, testing and ntegration. Products manufactured at the facility include the MK47 40mm Grenade Weapon System and the M2HB 12.7 mm (caliber .50) machine gun.