Tasnim – The Iranian Navy’s indigenized version of the Phalanx, a close-in weapon system (CIWS) on military vessels used for defense against anti-ship missiles, is undergoing tests, a top Navy commander said.





Speaking to the Tasnim News Agency, Rear Admiral Mahmoud Mousavi pointed to the manufacturing process of the Iranian version of the CIWS and said it has not been delivered to the Navy since the system is in testing phases.

The commander added that it has been decided to employ the indigenized Phalanx after testing the system.



Back in December, Lieutenant Commander of Iran’s Navy Admiral Gholam Reza Biqam told Tasnim that the manufacturing process of the system is in good progress.

Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari had unveiled plans for manufacturing the homegrown version of Phalanx in 2015.

Consisting of a radar-guided Gatling gun mounted on a swiveling base, the Phalanx has been used by multiple navies around the world, notably by the US Navy on every class of surface combat ship.

Iranian experts have already produced a powerful Gatling gun, dubbed “Moharram”.

The six-barrel weapon is a 50 caliber firearm with the high rate of fire of 2,000-2,500 rounds per minute.

The fast machine gun can be mounted on a broad range of military vehicles, choppers, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), warships and destroyers.