Goalkeeper CIWS Goalkeeper is a Dutch close - in weapon system ( CIWS ) introduced in 1979 and in use . It is an autonomous and completely automatic weapon system for short - range defense of ships against highly maneuverable missiles , aircraft and fast maneuvering surface vessels . Once activated the system automatically performs the entire process from surveillance and detection to destruction , including selection of the next priority target . Development . Development of the system began in 1975 with Holland - Signaal ( now Thales Nederland ) working with General Dynamics , which supplied the GAU - 8 gun . A prototype , the EX - 83 was first demonstrated to the Royal Netherlands Navy in 1979 . In 2012 the Dutch ministry of defense announced that the Goalkeeper systems in use by the Netherlands Navy will receive radar upgrades , mechanical improvements , new high - precision frangible ammunition and a new electro - optical tracking system . Also the system ' s surface mode will be improved to counter high speed boats and fast attack craft . These upgrades will make the system more capable to defend ships against the latest threats such as modern anti - ship missiles , more effective in littoral environments and less vulnerable to malfunctions . It also expands the life of the system to at least 2025 . The first of 16 systems will be upgraded and tested by Thales Nederland , the others at the naval base in Den Helder . Description . Target selection . Goalkeeper has two radar sub - systems , one to find threats and another to track and engage them , which operate together to identify and prioritise targets , and engage the highest priority one . The 2D I band search radar , which can handle up to 18 targets at once , generates a threat picture which the gun system uses to identify and prioritize threats . The system has identify friend or foe ( IFF ) functionality to rule out friendly traces . The tracking radar operates in both I band and K band to enable quick acquisition on the threat bearing . Data from both the I band and K band return signals indicate target range and can be used to identify , and respond to the use of , electronic countermeasures ( ECM ) . The dual band system also reduces the effect of clutter , which can mask the target at low altitude . A camera system on the assembly provides a visual fallback for the system operator . Target engagement . The GAU - 8 / A Avenger 30 mm Gatling gun , as used by the A - 10 Thunderbolt II aircraft , was selected for the system . The 30 mm round has a greater mass than the M61 Vulcan used in the Phalanx CIWS , so it provides much greater destructive power with similar muzzle velocity and range . The 30 mm round has a discarding nylon sleeve ( sabot ) with a 21 mm sub - calibre tungsten penetrator . The nylon sabot provides a seal between penetrator and barrel , and reduces wear . The tracking radar is capable of monitoring the line of fire and commanding minor adjustments . Supersonic missiles that are damaged may still have enough momentum to hit the ship — the only way to ensure the protection of the ship is either to detonate the warhead of the missile or obliterate the missile . The system ' s reaction time to a Mach 2 sea - skimming missile such as the Russian SS - N - 22 Sunburn from automatic detection to kill is reported to be 5 . 5 seconds with the firing synchronized to start the engagement at a range of 1 , 500 m and ending with a kill at 300 m . Operational History . Goalkeeper ’ s capabilities have been proven many times during sea - going trials . During live - fire exercises , multiple different targets including Harpoons , Exocets and target drone s were shot down by Goalkeeper . During anti - piracy operations off the coast of Somalia the system destroyed several pirate boats and skiff s that had been seized by the Netherlands Navy .