I just purchased Dragon's USS Momsen kit (1/350). I noticed that the kit shows it should be built with the Palanx CIWS. I has under the impression that the Phalanx CIWS was not installed on DDG 85 and later ships. Apparetnly the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) is being considered as a future self-defense weapon. I've looked at photos on the of DDG 85+ on the web, and I can't see any CIWS. I also noticed that pictures of DDG 85+ also show the stern radar platform descending vertically down to the deck, while the kit has it stepped down (with a CIWS on the step) .

Can anyone confirm this, or provide any more information.

Thanks.

More than likely this is a re-box of the Panda kit. Those kits were the Cole and the Churchill.

No the momsen dousn't have the ciws none of the newer burks do. The ciws is starting to be removed from other classes of boat as well. The navy considers it out of date.
Jim

Here is another interesting feature of the newer ships as well.



Arleigh Burke vessels, along with USN cruisers and LPDs, are being fitted with the BAE Systems Australia mk53 Nulka active missile decoy system. Nulka is a hovering rocket system, which seduces incoming missiles away from the ship.


"Seduces incoming missiles", I don't think I want to know how they do that.

The CIWS mounts on the momson kit have to be glued on so if the bout your modeling doesn't have them you can simply leave them off.
jim