Goalkeeper is a Dutch close-in weapon system, the purpose of which is to defend a ship against incoming missiles and ballistic shells. The system consists of an autocannon and an advanced radar which tracks incoming fire, determines its trajectory, then aims the gun and fires in a matter of seconds. The system is fully automatic, needing no human input once activated. The kinetic energy of the 30mm rounds is sufficient to destroy any missile or shell. The system can also be deployed to protect airfields.

Specification

Gun info:

• Gun: GAU-8/A Avenger 30mm seven-barrel Gatling gun
• Rate of fire: 70 or 75 shots per second (4200 shots per minute)
• Weapons range: 350 to 1500 or 2000 meters (depending on ammo)
• Kill distance: 500 meters
• Tracking: can keep track of 18 targets and prioritize

Magazine info:

• magazine size: 1190 shots
• burst size: 300 shots
• bursts per magazine: 4
• magazine reload time: 9 minutes (loading is done below deck)

Other info:

• Manufacturer: Thales Navy Netherlands
• Units produced: 50+
• Cost: £8 Million
• Users: Royal Netherlands Navy, British Royal Navy, South Korean Navy

Comparison

Compared with the Phalanx CIWS the Goalkeeper is:

• more expensive: Goalkeeper costs more than twice as much as Phalanx;
• harder to install: Phalanx can be welded to any section of deck and plugged in ('bolt on'); Goalkeeper requires significant structural modifications ('deck penetration');
• different firing: Phalanx fires continuously until the target is destroyed, Goalkeeper fires a burst of at least 1 second (70 rounds) but can switch targets depending on threat to ship;
• equal weapons range: on average, a Phalanx 1B can kill targets out to 4,000 yards;
• more accurate: Phalanx kill distance is 300 meters;
• More impact: Goalkeepers new FMPDS (Frangible Metal Penetrator Discarding Sabot) provides more Kinetic energy than the Phalanx rounds;
• more tracking: Phalanx only keeps track of the current target;
• reloading: the Phalanx ammo drum is put directly into the gun, the Goalkeeper is reloaded below deck;
• used less: Phalanx is used by 22 navies;
• Goalkeeper can be operated in three modes - Auto, Semi-Auto and Manual allowing full operator operability.

External links

• RN page of Goalkeeper CIWS