Out of curiosity (and possibly a dumb question), what is the main constraint preventing modern (subsonic) bombers from carrying CIWS-type defense system against missiles? Is it size, weight, recoil, aerodynamics, or special radar requirements? The initial push behind removing gun systems appears to have been development of AA missiles and increased reliance on fighter escorts. Yet modern CIWS on sea vessels have become so effective against missiles that they significantly upped the cost and requirements of anti-ship warfare, to the point that a single missile fired at a ship is not expected to be successful. Given advanced enough CIWS (using directed energy in near future?) one basically doesn&#x27;t need stealth or other fancy&#x2F;expensive&#x2F;less reliable features.