time for me to get in, page-10

I can think of one weapon system that could possibly fill this role. an MST CIWS either BFMG or Axially fed machine gun, which can incorporate medium of high pressure firing, it would give them an extended range, flatter trajectory, and hence accuracy, we haven't heard much about these weapons yet, but they will be coming in the near future in my opinion, and has possibly two calibres 40mm grenade for port security and such and say 12mm very high velocity solid projectile rounds or perhaps even a little larger, it's worth remembering though that at mach 5/50 these projectiles would pack as much punch as a round four time that calibre, they would fight above their weight so to speak.

http://www.asiapacificdefencereporter.com/july09/Anzac-ASMD


What’s missing in the ASMD?
There are several components of a ship’s ASMD that are considered to be critically important. Not in any order of priority, but they include:-

Adoption of the US Navy’s cooperative engagement capability [CEC] that will result in ships fitted with the capability being operationally force-centric. This will be a major determinant in their ability to contribute to the establishment of a force protection “umbrella.” Without CEC, ships remain essentially operationally ship-centric and isolated from a common situational awareness presentation essential for force operations.

Adoption of a close-in weapon system, such as a gun or a missile. ESSM has a short range capability to engage airborne targets, but not surface targets. It is also an expensive missile and the ANZAC’s full load capacity is only 32 of same. """"There is therefore a very strong argument to install a short range gun capable of engaging surface and air targets""""" (such as Typhoon or Phalanx) or an autonomous missile to engage air targets (such as Mistral or RAM). These systems typically have maximum engagement ranges of 2km for a gun and 5km for a missile. Noteworthy is that most guns fire 20mm ammunition which are not fuzed, """""thus placing a demand for higher accuracy of the weapon and engagement at a range when the trajectory is flat."""""

A general purpose electro-optical sensor system [EOSS] capable of continuous 24 hour operation. This providing long range, horizon stabilised, automatic or operator controlled surveillance, detection, tracking, ranging and threat type classification of a wide range of air and surface threats. Also, this type of system contributes to ship navigation, station keeping, shore bombardment, and search and rescue. These systems typically carry a single bandwidth IR camera, a daylight visible band colour camera, a long range eye-safe laser range finder – all aligned on a common optical boresight In some cases these systems are also capable of directing a gun system and providing pointing data to a missile system. RAN’s FFGs are fitted with a system of this capability, excluding direct weapon control. A contract was also recently awarded to provide two EOSS for each of the AWDs. The AWD system is essentially similar to the proven system installed on the Navy’s Type 45 destroyer. The systems are supplied by Ultra Electronics Command and Control Systems, United Kingdom.

Conclusion
The ASMD project will not upgrade the ANZAC Class ships to a level of capability that is common in many other ships of this class in other navies, but it will greatly improve its chances of survival in a limited multiple threat air attack. However, this will be insufficient in an intense littoral air and surface warfare environment, particularly if the ships are not part of an integrated force.

Like most Australian defence projects, absolute superiority is considered to be unaffordable. This project is ‘tuned’ to a lesser level of capability, commensurate with the perceived low density operational environment considered likely to emerge during their remaining life.