Navy: Defence Equipment
Commons · Question 123061 · Tabled 23 Mar 2026 · Ministry of Defence · Official record
Answered 31 Mar 2026
Question
Asked by Ben Obese-Jecty
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Royal Navy’s Phalanx CIWS is permitted to defeat crewed a) fixed-wing or b) rotary-wing platforms.
Answer
Answered by Luke Pollard, 31 Mar 2026
The Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) is designed primarily to counter incoming missiles and other immediate air or surface threats, with its employment governed by strict Rules of Engagement. Any use of the system against crewed fixed‑ or rotary‑wing...