I’m American. And I know you’re Indian- it’s quite obvious from your signature. 🙂

Why not mount the over-the-cockpit-pod beneath the fuselage instead of in that cumbersome position up top?

To clarify Garry’s point the reason Phalanx is being replaced (supplanted?) by RAM is to cope with supersonic sea-skimmers. The heavyweight diving supersonics were to be dealt with by Standard and RIM-7.

As to the Moskit terminal ‘dance’ debate Janes Naval Weapons systems has this to say:

It also lists a single weapon speed of M2.3. IF its true that seeker activation is held off until, maximum, 7000yds from target its hard to see how a liquid fueled ramjet could punch it up to M4.5 from M2.0-2.3 within the short timeframe left in the terminal engagement phase. For the Klub to have this kind of performance a seperating rocket-boosted terminal stage was required – if 3M80 can do the same thing without that complexity it makes you wonder why they were d1cking around with Klub for all those years!. I’d have some doubts about the Mach daft terminal phase reports therefore.

Why not go for the Russian Kashtan type mount and stick on an extra gatling gun?

I think the most oft quoted one is the latter- 4.5 in terminal.

Nice picture.