Initiated in response to operational needs articulated by the Multinational Force in Iraq (MNF-I), C-RAM emerged as a solution to the escalating casualties caused by attacks utilizing rockets, artillery, and mortars. Deployed in Iraq in 2004, the land-based Phalanx B shielded vital locations such as the Green Zone, Camp Victory in Baghdad, and Joint Base Balad, also finding use with the British army in southern Iraq.
Designed to engage and obliterate incoming threats like missiles, mortars, and rockets, the C-RAM employs a radar-assisted Centurion multi-barrel rotary cannon, building upon the proven naval Phalanx system. The 20mm Land-Based Phalanx (C-RAM) stands as a ground adaptation of the U.S. Navy’s close-in weapon system, utilizing the 20mm HEIT-SD (high-explosive incendiary tracer, self-destruct) ammunition originally developed for the M163 Vulcan air defense system.
Distinguished by its use of rounds that explode upon impact with the target or upon tracer burnout, the C-RAM significantly reduces the risk of collateral damage from rounds that fail to reach their intended targets. In a live-fire demonstration captured in the video below, U.S. troops showcase the formidable capabilities of the C-RAM system, marking a crucial advancement in modern defense technology.