Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar

2010 test-fire of a C-RAM. Balad, Iraq

Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar, abbreviated C-RAM or Counter-RAM, is a set of systems used to detect and/or destroy incoming artillery, rockets and mortar rounds in the air before they hit their ground targets, or simply provide early warning.

C-RAM is effectively a land version of weapons such as the Phalanx CIWS radar-controlled rapid-fire gun for close in protection of vessels from missiles.

Description

Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System

C-RAM is an initiative taken in response to an operational needs statement made by the Multinational Force Iraq (MNF-I). The directive arose in response to the increasing number of casualties caused by attacks using rockets, artillery, and mortars in Iraq. The land-based Phalanx B was subsequently deployed in Iraq in the summer of 2004. It protected the Green Zone and Camp Victory in Baghdad, Joint Base Balad near Balad, Iraq, and was also deployed by the British Army in southern Iraq.

Systems

Rafael Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (C-RAM) and Very Short Range Air Defense system (V-SHORAD) at static display Aero India 2013
Operational

Development

Raytheon is developing a laser-based variation where low cost focused lasers will provide increased range and decreased time-to-intercept over the gun. A proof of concept was demonstrated on a 60mm mortar round in 2006.[4]

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is also building a laser-based variant known as the Iron Beam.

Operators

See also

References

  1. http://www.otomelara.it/products-services/landsystems/porcupine-c-ram
  2. http://www.otomelara.it/products-services/landsystems/draco
  3. http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/a-laser-phalanx-03783/
  4. "Royal Artillery Careers". Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 31 March 2009. Other operational commitments are conducted (in the tertiary role) using C-RAM - a new and highly sensitive self defence system which destroys rockets and projectiles in flight. Applicable to Gunner Rapier applicants only.
  5. "16th Air Land Regiment, RAA". Australian Army. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  6. http://www.otomelara.it/products-services/landsystems/porcupine-c-ram
  7. http://www.otomelara.it/products-services/landsystems/draco

External links

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