Sea Zenith
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Sea Zenith is a four-barrelled 25 mm CIWS It was developed in the 1980s by Oerlikon Contraves (Rheinmetall Air Defence since 2009) around their Oerlikon KBB gun and manufactured in Switzerland. Before 1989 it was known as the Sea Guard.[1] This automatic gun uses a 25x184mm cartridge (longer than the one used by the more common Oerlikon KBA gun) at a rate of 800 rounds a minute. Using four independent guns instead of one multi-barrelled rotary cannon improves reliability. The system is mounted in an enclosed automatic turret and directed by the Seaguard radar developed by Contraves. The turret is tilted back to allow a higher elevation to intercept diving missiles. The system's primary purpose is defence against anti-ship missiles, and other precision guided weapons. However it can also be employed against fixed/rotary wing aircraft, ships and other small craft, coastal targets, and floating mines.
Specifications:
- Caliber: 25 mm
- Barrels: 4 (independent)
- Rate of fire: 3,200 rpm (combined)
- Range: 2 km
- Weight: 3500 kg
Operations
[edit]The Turkish Naval Forces installed Sea Zenith on their MEKO 200 frigates, like the Barbaros and Yavuz classes.[citation needed] New Turkish made Aselsan Gökdeniz CIWS took the role of the gun-based CIWS in new and modernized ships of the Turkish Naval Forces.[2][3]
It was also evaluated by the Italian Navy.
Gallery
[edit]
TCG Turgutreis bearing Sea Zenith
Sea Zenith on Turgutreis
Another view of Sea Zenith on Turgutreis
References
[edit]- ↑ "Oerlikon Contraves GM25 Sea Zenith (Switzerland)". Jane's Naval Weapon Systems. Jane's Information Group. March 18, 2009. Archived from the original on March 9, 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
- ↑ Valpolini, Paolo (2025-04-09). "Aselsan completed the world's most comprehensive MEKO class frigate modernization". EDR Magazine. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
- ↑ Vavasseur, Xavier (24 August 2023). "Aselsan's Gökdeniz CIWS integrated into first Istanbul-class frigate after completing FAT". Janes. Janes Information Services. Retrieved 30 December 2025.