Counter-RAM

Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (C-RAM or Counter-RAM) is a system used to destroyincoming artillery, rockets and mortar rounds in the air before they hit their ground targets.

Description

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 2005. It protects the Green Zone and Camp Victory in Baghdad, Logistics Support Area Anaconda in Balad, Iraq, and is also deployed by the British Army in southern Iraq.

Israel is considering buying the system to counter rocket attacks and defending point military installations. Each system costs $15 million, and uses a 20 mm M61A1 Gatling gun firing 3,000 or 4,500 M-246 or M-940 rounds per minute. The shells are fused to self-destruct in the air. [ [http://www.murdoconline.net/archives/003558.html CIWS now does surface targets] Murdoc online, March 20, 2006] [ [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1196847389509&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter "Israel may buy rapid-fire cannon"] Jerusalem Post. Dec 20, 2007]

ystem components and users

Proposed systems are as follows:
*20mm Phalanx Close-in weapon system, a land based variant of the US Navy anti-ship missile defense system;
*35mm Skyshield, a German rotary wing air defense system.
*Active Protection System, developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency for anti-tank missile defense.

Initial military units to deploy C-RAM were:
*United States Army Air Defense Artillery (ADA)
**C/5-5 ADA(Intercept Battery) out of Fort Lewis.
**4-5 ADA(Sense and Warn Detachment) out of Fort Hood, Texas.
**C/3-4 ADA(Intercept Battery)out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
**473rd (Sense and Warn Detachment) out of Columbia, Tennessee.

ee also

*Counter-battery radar

References

External links

* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/cram.htm GlobalSecurity.org] 's article on Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (C-RAM)
* [http://peoc3t.monmouth.army.mil/cram/cram.html C-RAM Project] , Fort Monmouth, C4ISTAR
* [http://www.omgvids.com/def.php omgvids.com] Video of C-RAM system in action.