Talks to Watch

Phalanx CIWS Close-in Weapon System In Action - US Navy's Deadly Autocannon

16M views · Apr 29, 2015 · 2:40 · 0 HN recommenders · 3 mentions · discussed 2021–2023

Footage of the US Navy's Phalanx CIWS, a radar-guided 20 mm Gatling gun, firing in live target practice. The Phalanx serves as terminal defense against anti-ship missiles.

Why Hacker News points people here: Linked as a vivid illustration of automated close-in defense when threads discuss drones and autonomous defense.

What Hacker News said 3

Cites itlb1lfNov 2021

“The Phalanx CIWS would fit the bill nicely”

Footage of the Phalanx CIWS radar-guided autocannon firing

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> (...) perhaps a radar controlled light machine gun would have to be developed. The Phalanx CIWS would fit the bill nicely (except for the 'light' part) [0]. [0] this video

in “What Norwegians are learning as they pioneer autonomous ships” · view on HN
Cites itregisteredcornAug 2022

Example of CIWS close-in defense system in action

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Well, if proximity detonation is an issue, there's always weapons like CIWS [1] and C-RAM [2]. I imagine there could easily be some kind of adaption made for specialized ammo. Instead of typical bullets, use some kind of very low grade concussive. The explosive wouldn't necessarily need to be an explosive , but merely just something to disrupt the air around one or two blades of the drone to force it into an unrecoverable spin. Similar to small grade concussives, I've heard some interesting defense systems use a projectile that has a kind of "mini parachute" to overwhelm target acquisition systems. I can't recall what it was in relation to. Chaff, maybe? The point is, if you could get enough small objects floating in the area, you could make it much harder for an enemy drone to maneuver within a specific area. Honestly, I think the soon-to-be hurdle would be around implementing a good jamming system against automated defenses, which would probably lead to inventing some sort of miniaturized version of current fighter planes, but built in such a way that doesn't need to account for things like G tolerance for pilots. [1] this video [2] link

in “DJI Drone Flies over the Top of Mount Everest” · view on HN
Cites itmhbJan 2023

Phalanx CIWS as a possible answer to attacking flocks

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I don't know how you'd be able to attack such a flock effectively Phalanx CIWS Close-in Weapon System In Action - US Navy's Deadly Autocannon this video

in “Feathered robotic wing paves way for flapping drones” · view on HN