Engaging thin walled rockets, mortars, and tactical missiles at short range travelling at a few hundred metres per second at low angle-off aspects with small calibre projectiles is many orders of magnitude simpler and cheaper than many of the long-range hard target kills described in this post. Lasing old slow thin-walled projectiles without any form of thermal protection over periods of several seconds in open air in order to cook them off is a much different proposition than quarter second tactical engagements at point blank range with personnel within metres of the engagement and downrange collateral effects to be concerned with. The fire control systems required could incorporate short-range defensive features as a subset of the main weapon fire control, which if produced in quantity becomes a practical cost-effective proposition, although probably not for another ten years or so.
It is a widely reported fact that Phalanx shot down 155mm shells in tests, and that was years ago. Not surprising since they are a predictable non-maneouvering subsonic targets of a hundred pounds that need only be damaged to bring down. Large Mach 3 damage tolerant and maneouvering missiles and an 8mil80 defensive weapon firing quarter pound shells is a much different proposition, hence the general move to RAM and 30mm weapons.
It is a widely reported fact that Phalanx shot down 155mm shells in tests, and that was years ago. Not surprising since they are a predictable non-maneouvering subsonic targets of a hundred pounds that need only be damaged to bring down. Large Mach 3 damage tolerant and maneouvering missiles and an 8mil80 defensive weapon firing quarter pound shells is a much different proposition, hence the general move to RAM and 30mm weapons.
