A U.S. Navy Phalanx Gun Targeted a Civilian 737 This Week

In a video that went viral yesterday, you can see a Mk 15 Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) begin to target what appears to be a civilian 737.

In an example of our collective dark sense of humor in the military, you can hear a sailor scolding the automated Phalanx as if it were a naughty toddler about to touch a hot stove.

It’s worth noting that this probably happens all the time. Ever flown into Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)? Your plane was likely lit up like a Christmas tree.

The CIWS (often spoken as “sea-wiz”) in the video appears to be mounted on a U.S. Whidbey Island-class amphibious dock landing ship, although it could also be a Harpers Ferry-class.

According to the U.S. Navy, the CIWS is a fast-reaction, detect-through-engage, radar-guided, 20-millimeter gun weapon system. It’s used primarily as an inner layer of protection against anti-ship missiles (ASM), aircraft, and small boats that have penetrated other fleet defenses.

The weapon system has various modes, from fully manual, to semi-automated (where it needs approval to fire), to fully automated mode. In fully automated, the CIWS can engage targets as it sees fit, under…