Design
The weapon is a modular system comprising a command module and typically 2 combat modules, although the number can be as many as 8 in the case of Admiral Kuznetsov or the Indian Vikramaditya. The command module detects and tracks threats, distributes targeting data to the combat modules, and interrogates IFF of approaching threats. The command module has a 3-D target detection radar, and an all weather multi-band integrated control system. Depending on the number of installed combat modules, the system can engage multiple targets simultaneously.
The combat modules automatically track using either radar, electro-optronic control system (such as FLIRs) or both, and then engages targets with missiles and guns. The combat modules are typically equipped with two GSh-30k (AO-18K) six-barrelled 30 mm gatling guns, fed by a link-less feeding mechanism, and two 9M311 launchers equipped with 4 ready-to-fire missiles each and fed by a reloading system storing 32 missiles in ready-to-launch containers.
The guns used in the Kashtan are the GSh-30k six-barrelled 30 mm gatling gun. Individually, each GSh-30k has a higher rate of fire compared to other guns used by other CIWS such as the GAU-8 on the Goalkeeper and the M61 Vulcan on the Phalanx. Along with a high rate of fire, the fairly heavy round (390 g or 14 oz) used by the Kashtan is comparable to the DU round of the GAU-8 Avenger (425 g or 15.0 oz), although the muzzle velocity (and therefore both the kinetic impact and effective range) is slightly lower, partially offsetting the high caliber and rate of fire.
The missiles used in the Kashtan are the 9M311 missiles, which is also used on the 9K22 Tunguska. The 9M311 is a SACLOS guided missile, however, it is steered automatically by the command module. The warhead weighs 9 kilograms (20 lb) and is either laser or radio fuzed. The warhead is a continuous-rod warhead with a steel cube fragmentation layer. The detonation of the warhead will form a complete circle of fragmentation that is 5 meters in radius, and damage or destroy anything in that circle.
The combination of the missiles and guns, provides more comprehensive protection when compared to other CIWS utilizing either missiles or guns only. The effective range of the missiles is 1,500–8,000 m (4,900–26,000 ft) up to an altitude of 3,500 m. The engagement range of the guns is 500–4,000 m (1,600–13,000 ft) up to an altitude of 3,000 m. The guns have a combined rate of fire around 10,000 rpm, and the reloading time for a group of approximately 4 missiles is 90 seconds.
Read more about this topic: Kashtan CIWS
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