pointdefense

Point defense refers to defensive measures designed to neutralize threats at very short range to protect a single asset or point, such as a warship, aircraft, base, or critical installation. It is the last line of defense against incoming projectiles and is typically distinguished from area or fleet air defense, which covers a larger volume or multiple assets.

Core elements include sensing, fire control, and interception. Sensors such as radar and electro-optical/infrared trackers detect and track incoming threats, while fire-control systems compute firing solutions for interceptors. Interceptor options range from close-range rotary cannons and short-range missiles to directed-energy devices. In addition to hard-kill weapons, soft-kill measures like chaff and electronic jamming may be used to disrupt guidance and reduce hit probability.

Common point-defense implementations on naval platforms include gun-based systems and missile-based modules. Phalanx CIWS uses a rapid-fire 20 mm Gatling gun for last-second engagements, while Goalkeeper employs a 30 mm Gatling gun with integrated tracking. RAM-based systems and SeaRAM configurations combine short-range missiles with radar and CIWS sensors for enhanced protection. Emerging approaches incorporate directed-energy weapons, such as high-energy lasers, as supplementary or primary point-defense options.

Operationally, point defense integrates with broader air-defense networks and shipboard combat management to provide rapid, autonomous responses to fast, maneuvering threats at close range. Limitations include saturation risk from multiple simultaneous targets, dependence on sensor uptime, weather, and the effectiveness of decoys or countermeasures. Point defense remains a critical component of surface security for high-value assets and fixed installations.