Navy warships to get self-defence weapons upgrades

20mm Phalanx CIWS
The navy's two warships are about to get sharper teeth to fight off attacks by small surface craft.

The Phalanx quick-fire Gatling gun on the Anzac frigates, HMNZS Te Kaha and HMNZS Te Mana, can fire up to 4500 rounds of 20mm ammunition a minute but only at anti-ship missiles and strike aircraft and not at small boats.

The navy is spending $25 million to upgrade the computer-controlled, radar-guided guns so they can also fire at small craft, such as speed boats or jetskis which may come in fast to attack the ships.

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