Defensa aérea

Sistema Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar / C-RAM

Also known as
  • C-RAM
  • C RAM
  • Counter-Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar
  • Counter Rocket Artillery Mortar
  • Centurion C-RAM
  • Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System
  • Land based Phalanx Weapon System
  • LPWS
  • Mobile Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System
  • MLPWS

El sistema Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (C-RAM), también conocido como Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System, es un sistema estadounidense de defensa aérea cercana y protección de fuerzas derivado del montaje naval Phalanx. Fuentes del Army y de CJTF-OIR documentan el uso de LPWS/C-RAM para proteger bases y emplazamientos de alto valor en Iraq, Afganistán y Siria, mientras que el linaje naval Phalanx también aparece en la defensa cercana contra misiles en el Mar Rojo.

Sistema Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar / C-RAM, Sistema terrestre de armas de defensa cercana, Defensa aérea
Image source: Commons PACFIRE image

Role in Conflicts

2020 United States-Iran Conflict
Air DefenseForce Protection

Fuerzas estadounidenses usaron C-RAM en el conflicto Estados Unidos-Irán de 2020 para defender una instalación diplomática estadounidense cerca del Baghdad International Airport después de que fuentes de seguridad dijeran que al menos tres drones explosivos atacaron el lugar y activaron el sistema de defensa aérea.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Estados Unidos
Built by
Raytheon
Type
Sistema terrestre de armas de defensa cercana
Service note
2005-presente

Specifications

Cañón
Cañón Gatling de seis cañones de 20 mm
Cadencia de fuego
4.500 disparos por minuto
Munición
Familia de cartuchos M940 de 20 mm autodestructivos / trazadores multipropósito
Montaje
Adaptacion terrestre del Navy Phalanx montada en remolque lowboy
Control de tiro
Radares integrados de busqueda y seguimiento, rastreador infrarrojo y funciones automatizadas de enfrentamiento
Arquitectura
Sistema de sistemas que integra sensores, equipos de mando y control, sistemas de alerta, FAAD C2 y LPWS
Misión
Detecta y contrarresta cohetes, artillería, proyectiles de mortero, amenazas aéreas cercanas y determinados drones pequeños
System Architecture

C-RAM es más amplio que el montaje de cañón por sí solo. Material presupuestario del Army describe un sistema de sistemas que combina sensores multiservicio, equipos de mando y control, sistemas de alerta, integración FAAD C2 y el componente interceptor Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System.

Elemento interceptor

LPWS es un sistema de cañón Navy Phalanx modificado y montado en un remolque para uso terrestre del Army.

Mando y alerta

FAAD C2 integra sensores, armas y sistemas de alerta para apoyar decisiones de alerta, interceptación, respuesta y protección.

Munición

La munición M940 autodestructiva de 20 mm se identifica en material del fabricante y del Army como parte de la cadena de disparo terrestre Phalanx/C-RAM.

Variants

La página del catálogo cubre la familia terrestre C-RAM derivada de Phalanx, no todos los montajes navales Mk 15. Las fuentes públicas usan LPWS, Centurion y C-RAM para configuraciones terrestres solapadas.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System (LPWS)Configuración C-RAM del Army montada en remolque lowboy

Un aviso contractual estadounidense describe LPWS como una variante usada por el Army del Mk 15 CIWS montada en un remolque lowboy.

Sources: DoW LPWS contract notice

Mobile Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System (MLPWS)Configuración móvil de demostración montada en HEMTT A3

Raytheon y Oshkosh demostraron una configuración móvil que integraba el Centurion Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System en un HEMTT A3, manteniendo las funciones basadas en Phalanx Block 1B.

Sources: Raytheon MLPWS demonstration

Munición disparada

Northrop Grumman identifica el M940 como el cartucho de 20 mm disparado desde el sistema C-RAM.

AmmunitionAmmunition typeFiring evidence
M940 MPT-SD cartridge, 20 mm multi-purpose tracer self-destruct cartridge, MunitionsM940 MPT-SD cartridgeCartucho trazador multipropósito autodestructivo de 20 mm

Northrop Grumman dice que el sistema C-RAM dispara el cartucho M940 de 20 mm.

Sources: Northrop Grumman Ammunition

Timeline

Sistema Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar / C-RAM Key Events

  1. Comienza el despliegue terrestre

    El Army dice que C-RAM fue adaptado del Navy Phalanx CIWS y se convirtio en una presencia habitual en teatros de combate tras su despliegue para uso terrestre en 2005.

    Sources: Army BOLC C-RAM overview

  2. Primera interceptación en combate

    Army University Press dice que una batería de interceptación C-RAM que usaba Phalanx 1B con radares del Army logró su primera interceptación en combate de un proyectil de mortero entrante en marzo de 2006.

    Sources: Army University Press C-RAM Adaptation

  3. Demostración de fuego real del LPWS móvil

    Raytheon y Oshkosh demostraron un Mobile Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System montado en HEMTT A3 en Yuma, e informaron de nueve blancos inertes de mortero destruidos durante el evento.

    Sources: Raytheon MLPWS demonstration

  4. Documentada la misión de combate LPWS en Bagram

    Informes del U.S. Army describieron al 2-44 ADA usando LPWS en Bagram Airfield para contrarrestar ataques de fuego indirecto durante Operation Enduring Freedom.

    Sources: Army Bagram LPWS Mission

  5. Calibración PACFIRE en Al-Tanf

    CJTF-OIR documentó un Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System de 20 mm disparando en un ejercicio de calibración PACFIRE en Al-Tanf Garrison, Siria.

    Sources: DVIDS Al-Tanf Phalanx PACFIRE Video

Media

Sistema Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar / C-RAM Videos

Sistema Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar / C-RAM Images

Sistema Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar / C-RAM, Sistema terrestre de armas de defensa cercana, Defensa aérea - view 1
Source: Commons Bagram image
Sistema Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar / C-RAM, Sistema terrestre de armas de defensa cercana, Defensa aérea - view 2
Source: Commons deployment image
Related Weapon Systems
20mm Mk 15 Phalanx, Shipboard close-in weapon system, Naval SystemsNaval Systems20mm Mk 15 PhalanxShipboard close-in weapon systemThe 20mm Mk 15 Phalanx is a U.S.-origin shipboard close-in weapon system built around an M61A1 Gatling gun, self-contained search and track radar, and automated fire-control functions. Navy and manufacturer sources describe it as the U.S. Navy's inner-layer defense against anti-ship missiles, aircraft, unmanned aircraft, and small surface threats; direct combat-use evidence includes USS Jarrett's Gulf War Phalanx firing during the Iraqi Silkworm engagement near USS Missouri and USS Gravely's Red Sea interception of a Houthi anti-ship missile.
RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile, Ship-launched surface-to-air missile, MunitionsMunitionsRIM-116 Rolling Airframe MissileShip-launched surface-to-air missileThe RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile is a U.S.-German ship self-defense missile used with the MK 31 RAM guided missile weapon system and SeaRAM launchers. U.S. Navy and Raytheon sources describe it as a lightweight, quick-reaction, fire-and-forget weapon for close defense against anti-ship missiles and other air or surface threats, while Red Sea reporting documents a German frigate firing a RIM-116 against Houthi drones in 2024.
M940 MPT-SD cartridge, 20 mm multi-purpose tracer self-destruct cartridge, MunitionsMunitionsM940 MPT-SD cartridge20 mm multi-purpose tracer self-destruct cartridgeThe M940 MPT-SD is a U.S. 20x102 mm multi-purpose tracer self-destruct cartridge for the land-based Phalanx / C-RAM firing chain. Northrop Grumman identifies M940-1 and M940-2 as C-RAM-fired rounds, Army ammunition material describes LPWS/C-RAM employing M940 against incoming rockets, artillery shells, and mortar rounds, and FY2027 budget material lists AC34 M940 w/MK7 Link procurement through Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics option lines.
Harpoon Coastal Defense System (HCDS), Mobile coastal anti-ship missile system, Naval SystemsNaval SystemsHarpoon Coastal Defense System (HCDS)Mobile coastal anti-ship missile systemHarpoon Coastal Defense System (HCDS) is a land-based Harpoon launch-system package built around mobile launcher transporter units, radar trucks, command-and-launch equipment, and RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II missiles. U.S. records identify Boeing as the principal contractor for Taiwan's HCDS sale, document follow-on launcher and missile-package contracts, and separately record two Harpoon coastal defense systems funded for Ukraine after Russia's full-scale invasion.
Mobile coastal launcher, Truck-mounted mobile coastal launcher for anti-ship cruise missiles, Naval SystemsNaval SystemsMobile coastal launcherTruck-mounted mobile coastal launcher for anti-ship cruise missilesThe Houthi mobile coastal launcher is a road-mobile shore-launch arrangement for anti-ship cruise missiles, built around recovered Yemeni C.801 launch equipment, trucks, and surface-search radars. It links the Al-Mandab-1/C-801 family to 2014 Yemen Civil War coastal defense and later appears in 2023 Red Sea Crisis reporting as Houthi truck-mounted anti-ship missiles and launchers threatened shipping from Houthi-controlled Yemen.

Sources

RTX Phalanx Weapon SystemPublisher: RTX | Note: Supports Phalanx background, the land-based Army role against rocket, artillery, and mortar systems, rapid-fire radar-guided close-in defense, and search, detection, threat evaluation, tracking, engagement, and kill-assessment functions. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Northrop Grumman AmmunitionPublisher: Northrop Grumman | Note: Supports the 20 mm ammunition family background and Northrop's statement that the M940 is fired from the C-RAM system. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Army BOLC C-RAM overviewPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports C-RAM Intercept LPWS identity, common C-RAM naming, land adaptation from Navy Phalanx CIWS, 2005 land-based fielding, M61A1 gun, M940 ammunition, and 4,500 rpm claim. | Accessed: 2026-07-01DoW LPWS contract noticePublisher: U.S. Department of War | Note: Supports Raytheon LPWS spares contract, LPWS as an Army-used lowboy trailer variant of Phalanx, and the integrated fire-control/search-track radar/infrared tracker/six-barrel gun description with 4,500 rpm rate. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Al-Monitor Baghdad attack reportPublisher: Al-Monitor | Note: Supports 2020 United States-Iran Conflict direct conflict-use: U.S. forces used C-RAM to defend a U.S. diplomatic facility near Baghdad International Airport after drone and rocket attacks. | Accessed: 2026-06-20USS Gravely Phalanx intercept reportPublisher: Navy Times | Note: Supports 2023 Red Sea Crisis direct conflict-use: USS Gravely used its Phalanx Close-In Weapon System to shoot down a Houthi anti-ship missile in the 2023 Red Sea Crisis. | Accessed: 2026-06-22Commons PACFIRE imagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and public-domain licensing for a 2025 U.S. Army Land-based Phalanx Weapon System firing photo. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Commons Bagram imagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and public-domain licensing for a 2014 U.S. Army C-RAM photo at Bagram Air Field. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Commons deployment imagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and public-domain licensing for a 2017 U.S. Army Land-based Phalanx Weapon System image. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Army C-RAM Defense TacticsPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports 2003 Iraq War direct conflict-use: C-RAM protected forward operating bases and high-value targets in Iraq, including an account of Phalanx engaging incoming munitions at a forward operating base in 2007. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Army C-RAM 100th Iraq interceptPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports 2003 Iraq War direct conflict-use and background: C-RAM was fielded to selected U.S. and coalition forward operating bases in Iraq and reached its 100th successful rocket or mortar intercept by late March 2008. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Army Bagram LPWS MissionPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports 2001 War in Afghanistan direct conflict-use: 2-44 ADA used Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System at Bagram Airfield to counter enemy indirect fire against forward operating bases. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Army Bagram 5-5 ADA MissionPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports 2001 War in Afghanistan direct conflict-use and background: 5-5 ADA operated LPWS at Bagram Airfield to protect U.S. and coalition forces from indirect-fire threats. | Accessed: 2026-07-01DVIDS Al-Tanf Phalanx PACFIRE VideoPublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports 2014 War Against the Islamic State direct conflict use under Operation Inherent Resolve: Supports 2014 Operation Inherent Resolve direct conflict-use: CJTF-OIR documented a 20 mm Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System operated at Al-Tanf Garrison, Syria, for PACFIRE calibration and defensive engagement readiness. | Accessed: 2026-07-01DVIDS Al Asad C-RAM test firePublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports 2014 War Against the Islamic State direct conflict use under Operation Inherent Resolve: Supports 2014 Operation Inherent Resolve direct conflict-use: CJTF-OIR documented a land-based Phalanx PACFIRE at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, on May 24, 2016. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Army Dragonslayer LPWS deploymentPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports 2014 War Against the Islamic State direct conflict use under Operation Inherent Resolve: Supports 2014 Operation Inherent Resolve direct conflict-use and background: LPWS is an integral C-RAM component and Army reporting says LPWS/C-RAM defended U.S. and coalition troops in Iraq and Syria from more than 100 attacks. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Raytheon MLPWS demonstrationPublisher: Raytheon | Note: Supports the Mobile Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System designation, HEMTT A3 mobile configuration, 20 mm M61A1 Gatling gun, M940 self-destruct ammunition, 4,500 shots per minute rate, search-and-track radar, closed-loop spotting, and autonomous engagement functions. | Accessed: 2026-07-01FY 2017 Army C-RAM BudgetPublisher: U.S. Army | Note: Supports C-RAM as a system-of-systems with sensors, command-and-control equipment, warning systems, LPWS, FAAD C2 integration, deployed sites, and fixed-site warning/intercept/protection functions. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Army University Press C-RAM AdaptationPublisher: Army University Press | Note: Supports early C-RAM adaptation context, including the March 2006 first combat intercept using Phalanx with Army radars. | Accessed: 2026-07-01