Quick Facts
| Variants |
Meroka-2A Meroka-2A3 Meroka-2B |
| Role and Mobility | Short-Range Point Defense; Ship-Based |
| Interceptors and Range |
Oerlikon 20mm guns with 0.075kg APDS-T projectile rounds (0.102 kg with sabot) 2 km range |
| Sensors |
-On-Mount PVS-2 Sharpshooter I-Band Acquisition Radar (5 km Range) -Optronic Targeting System (Backup Jamming Countermeasure) -IR Tracker -PRF-Agiile AESN RTN-30X radar -Indra thermal imager |
| Targets | Anti-Ship Missiles, Aircraft, and other Precision Guided Weapons |
| Status/Exports | Operational; Spain |
| Designer/Producer | FABA |
Overview
The Meroka is a Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), operating as a point defense system for many ships in the Spanish Navy. The system uses 12 Oerlikon 20mm gun barrels arranged in 2 rows of 6 barrels each, with the barrels slightly skewed in order to create a larger spread.[i]The range of the system is listed as 1.5-2 km, however the effective range is much shorter at 0.5 km.[ii]According to the Spanish Navy, the Meroka has an 87% chance of destroying an incoming missile with a single 12 round burst.[iii]
The Meroka CIWS has undergone multiple upgrades since its first development to reach the 2B model that is the current standard for all systems:
Meroka-2A:An upgraded variant of the original system, to include a thermal imager and a digital processor as a replacement to an analog processor.[iv]
Meroka-2A3:A further upgraded system in which three digital processors replaced the single one in the 2A model. A fully automatic firing capability was added as well.[v]
Meroka-2B: The current variant of the Meroka CIWS, the 2B model uses a new tracking radar with Moving-Target Indication (MTI), a reduced radar cross section, and greater onboard ammunition stowage capacity.[vi]
Strategic Implications
The Meroka CIWS provides ships with a strategic point defense against anti-ship missiles. With an optronic targeting system as a backup to the system’s radars, the Meroka can operate in a jammed environment, which is an important air defense capability. The four three-barreled salvoes of the Meroka is beneficial as it has less time between each firing compared to other CIWSs which use a gatling gun design. The skewed barrels of the guns also increase the lethal area of the system, making it easier to intercept targets.
Timeline
October 1995:The Spanish Navy decides to upgrade its Meroka installations to Mod 2B standards during the regular 1996/1997 overhauls[vii]
1993: The Spanish Navy received approval to upgrade its Meroka installations to the Mod 2A3 standards[viii]
1986: First installations of the Meroka systems on Spanish naval ships[ix]
1980: Sea Trials for the original Meroka CIWS are completed[x]
1978: Sea Trials for the original Meroka CIWS begin[xi]
Recent News
References
[i]http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNSpain_2cm-120_Meroka.php
[ii]https://www.forecastinternational.com/archive/disp_pdf.cfm?DACH_RECNO=785
[iii]http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNSpain_2cm-120_Meroka.php
[iv]https://www.forecastinternational.com/archive/disp_pdf.cfm?DACH_RECNO=785
[v]Ibid.
[vi]Ibid.
[vii]Ibid.
[viii]Ibid.
[ix]Ibid.
[x]Ibid.
[xi]Ibid.
