The Phalanx Close In Weapons System (CIWS) is an anti-Anti-ship missile system that was designed and manufactured by the General Dynamics Corporation, Pomona Division.  It is now manufactured by the Raytheon Company. Used by the United States Navy on every class of surface combat ship and by the United States Coast Guard aboard its Hamilton and Legend class cutters, it is also used by navies of 23 allied nations. 

Because of their distinctive barrel-shaped radome and their automated nature of operation, Phalanx CIWS units are sometimes nicknamed "R2-D2" in the US Navy, after the famous droid from Star Wars.  A land based variant known as C-RAM has been recently deployed in a short range missile defense role, to counter incoming rockets and artillery fire.

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