Goalkeeper CIWS

Goalkeeper is a Dutch close-in weapon system (CIWS) introduced in 1979. It is an autonomous and completely automatic weapon system for short-range defence of ships against highly manoeuvrable missiles, aircraft and fast-manoeuvering surface vessels. Once activated the system automatically undertakes the entire air defence process from surveillance and detection to destruction, including the selection of the next priority target.

Goalkeeper CIWS
A Goalkeeper CIWS on a British Invincible-class aircraft carrier firing at a target
TypeClose-in weapon system
Place of originNetherlands
Service history
In service1980–present
Used bySee operators
Production history
DesignerSignaal (now Thales Nederland)
Designed1975
ManufacturerThales Naval Netherlands
Produced1979
Specifications
Mass6,372 kg (14,048 lb) with 1,190 rds of ammunition (above deck); 9,902 kg (21,830 lb) (total).
Height3.71 m (above deck) 6.2 m (including deck penetration).
CrewAutomated, with human oversight
Shell30×173mm TP, HEI, MPDS, or FMPDS
Caliber30 mm
Barrels7-barrel (progressive RH parabolic twist, 14 grooves)
Elevation+85 to −25 degrees at 80 degree/s
TraverseUnlimited
Rate of fire70 rounds/second (4,200 rounds/minute)
Muzzle velocity1,109 m/s (MPDS round)
Effective firing range350 to between 1,500 and 2,000 metres dependent on ammunition
Main
armament
1 x GAU-8/A Avenger 30 mm seven-barrel Gatling gun

Development

Development of the system began in 1975 with Hollandse Signaalapparaten B.V. or in short Hollandse Signaal or Signaal (now Thales Nederland) working with General Electric, which supplied the GAU-8 gun. A prototype, the EX-83, was first demonstrated to the Royal Netherlands Navy in 1979.

In 2012 the Dutch ministry of defense announced that the Goalkeeper systems in use by the Netherlands Navy will receive radar upgrades, mechanical improvements, new high-precision frangible ammunition and a new electro-optical tracking system. Also, the system's surface model will be improved to counter high-speed boats and fast attack craft. These upgrades will make the system more capable to defend ships against the latest threats such as modern anti-ship missiles, more effective in littoral environments and less vulnerable to malfunctions. It also expands the life of the system to at least 2025. The first of 16 systems will be upgraded and tested by Thales Nederland, the others at the naval base in Den Helder.[1] The upgrade has been named the Upkeep Modification.

The development of the Upkeep Modification did not go smoothly. The costs associated with the upgrade rose 700,000 euro above the planned budget in 2015, and led to a loss for Thales Nederland in that year.[2] Nonetheless, by 2016 the first upgrade was completed and placed aboard the HNLMS Evertsen for testing purposes. The newly upgraded Goalkeeper system brings numerous improvements and additions to the system. Among these are new color and infrared cameras, a new control panel, new software and computers, and the ability to let several Goalkeeper systems work with each other simultaneously.[3]

In March 2018 the upgraded Goalkeeper CIWS passed the sea acceptance trial flawlessly. The Upkeep Modification is meant to bring the performance of the Goalkeeper system once again to the highest operational status, in correspondence with the Royal Netherlands Navy’s ambition to optimally protect its crew and ships during overseas deployments.[4]

Description

Target selection

Goalkeeper has two radar sub-systems, one to find threats and another to track and engage them, which operate together to identify and prioritise targets and engage the highest priority one.

The 2D I band search radar, which can handle up to 18 targets at once, generates a threat picture which the gun system uses to identify and prioritize threats. The system has identify friend or foe (IFF) functionality to rule out friendly traces.[5] The tracking radar operates in both I band and K band to enable quick acquisition on the threat bearing. Data from both the I band and K band return signals indicate target range and can be used to identify, and respond to the use of, electronic countermeasures (ECM). The dual-band system also reduces the effect of clutter, which can mask the target at low altitude. A camera system on the assembly provides a visual fallback for the system operator.

A target hit by Goalkeeper; this target was hit six times during a one-second burst of 70 rounds

Target engagement

The GAU-8/A Avenger 30 mm, also used by the A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft, was selected for the system. The 30x173mm cartridge has a greater projectile mass than the 20x102mm cartridge fired by the Phalanx CIWS M61 Vulcan, so it provides much greater destructive power with similar muzzle velocity but significantly increased range.

The 30x173mm MPDS cartridge has a discarding nylon sleeve (sabot) with a 21 mm sub-calibre tungsten penetrator. The nylon sabot provides a seal between penetrator and barrel and reduces wear.

The tracking radar is capable of monitoring the line of fire and commanding minor adjustments.

Supersonic missiles that are damaged may still have enough momentum to hit the ship—the only way to ensure the protection of the ship is either to detonate the warhead of the missile or obliterate the missile.

The system's reaction time to a Mach 2 sea-skimming missile such as the Russian SS-N-22 Sunburn from automatic detection to kill is reported to be 5.5 seconds with the firing synchronized to start the engagement at a range of 1,500 m and ending with a kill at 300 m.[5]

Operational history

Goalkeeper's capabilities have been proven many times during sea-going trials. During live-fire exercises, many different targets including Harpoons, Exocets and target drones were shot down by Goalkeeper. During anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia the system destroyed several pirate boats and skiffs that had been seized by the Royal Netherlands Navy.[6]

Comparison with current CIWS
Comparison of some modern CIWS
Goalkeeper CIWS AK-630[7] AK-630M1-2[8] Phalanx CIWS[9] DARDO[10]
Mass 9,902 kg (21,830 lb) 9,114 kg (20,093 lb) 11,819 kg (26,056 lb) 6,200 kg (13,700 lb) 5,500 kg (12,100 lb)
Armament 30 mm (1.2 in) 7-barreled GAU-8 Avenger Gatling gun 30 mm (1.2 in) 6-barreled GSh-6-30 Gatling gun 30 mm (1.2 in) 2 * 6-barreled GSh-6-30 Gatling gun 20 mm (0.79 in) 6-barreled M61 Vulcan Gatling gun 40 mm (1.6 in) 2-barreled Bofors 40 mm
Rate of fire (rounds per minute) 4,200 5,000 10,000 4,500 600/900
(Effective/ flat-trajectory) range 3,500 m (11,500 ft) 2,000 m (6,600 ft) 4,000 m (13,000 ft) 2,600 m (8,500 ft) 4,000 m (13,000 ft)
Ammunition storage (rounds) 1,190 2,000 4,000 1,550 736
Muzzle velocity (per second) 1,109 m (3,638 ft) 900 m (3,000 ft) 900 m (3,000 ft) 1,100 m (3,600 ft) 1,000 m (3,300 ft)
Elevation (degrees) −25 to +85° −12 to +88° −12 to +88° −25 to +85° −13 to +85°
Traverse (degrees) 360° 360° 360° −150 to +150° 360°

Specifications
  • Gun: GAU-8/A Avenger 30 mm seven-barrel rotary cannon.
  • Height: 3.71 m (above deck) 6.2 m (including deck penetration).
  • Weight: 6,372 kg with 1,190 rds of ammunition (above deck), 9,902 kg (total).
  • Elevation +85° to −25° at 80°/s.
  • Muzzle velocity: 1,109 m/s (MPDS round).
  • Rotation speed 360° in 3.8 seconds
  • Rate of fire: 70 rounds/second (4,200 rounds/minute).
  • Maximum burst size: 1,000 rounds.
  • Ammunition: 1,190 linkless (HEI, API, TP, MPDS, FMPDS) rounds in a below-deck magazine.
  • Reload time: 9 minutes (loading is done below deck)
  • Weapons range: 350 to between 1,500 and 2,000 meters dependent on ammunition.
  • Search radar: I band/linear array. I band is X band. Beamsize 1.5 degrees horizontal, 60 degrees vertical. Rotates at 1 Hz (60 RPM). Range approx. 30 km.
  • Engagement radar: I band and K band monopulse cassegrain.
  • Optical system: TV (Future EO/IR)
  • 100% kill distance: 500 m

Operators
Map of Goalkeeper operators in blue

Current operators

Former operators

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-12-04. Retrieved 2013-04-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) article from Thales Nederland
  2. "Thales lijdt miljoenenstrop". Tubantia. 23 October 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  3. "Eerste gemoderniseerde Goalkeeper klaar voor tests". marineschepen.nl. 22 July 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  4. "Thales Goalkeeper Passes Sea Acceptance Trials Following Upgrade". Navy Recognition. 20 March 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  5. Goalkeeper CIWS Archived 2006-02-18 at the Wayback Machine at the Royal Netherlands Navy LCF Frigate information page
  6. "Tromp ontwapent piraten", Nieuws [News] (in Dutch), NL: Marineschepen.
  7. "267 AK-630 Gatling gun close in weapon system", Navy, Indian military.
  8. "Roy", Naval, RU: Guns.
  9. Data, United States: Navy.
  10. "WNIT 4cm-70 Breda", Weapons, Nav weaps.
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