- Mauser BK-27
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Mauser BK-27 
The Mauser BK-27Type Revolver cannon Place of origin Germany Service history Used by See users Production history Designer Mauser (now Rheinmetall) Designed 1976 Manufacturer Mauser (now Rheinmetall) Produced 1977-present Number built 3,100~ Specifications Weight 100 kg (220 lb 7 oz) Length 2.31 m (7 ft 7 in) Barrel length 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) Shell 27x145 mm Caliber 27 mm (1.063 in) caliber Barrels Single barrel Action revolver Rate of fire 1,000-1,700 rpm (+/- 100rpm), selectable Muzzle velocity 1,025 m/s (3,360 ft/s) The BK 27 (also BK27 or BK-27) (German acronym for "Bordkanone", translation: on-board cannon) is a 27 mm (1.063 in) caliber revolver cannon manufactured by Mauser (now part of Rheinmetall) of Germany. It was developed in the late 1960s for the MRCA (Multi-Role Combat Aircraft) program that ultimately became the Panavia Tornado.[1]
The BK 27 is a gas-operated cannon firing a new series of 27x145 mm projectiles with a typical weight of 260 g (9.2 oz). It uses a linked feed system, but a BK 27 Linkless, with a new linkless feed system intended to improve reliability, has been developed for the Eurofighter.[1]
Contents
Design
The Mauser BK 27 is used in the Panavia Tornado, the Alpha Jet, the JAS 39 Gripen, and the Eurofighter Typhoon. At one time the USAF hoped to license its production for the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter, but those plans have been cancelled in favour of the cheaper GAU-22/A.
Recently Rheinmetall also developed modified, remote controlled naval versions, the MN 27 GS and the MLG 27 fully automatic naval guns, applied on many ships of the German Navy. 99 MLGs 27 have been ordered by the German Navy so far.[2] The cannon is a single-barrel, high performance, breech-cylinder gun operated by a fully automatic electrically fired gas-operated system at a selective rate of 1000 or 1700 rounds per minute.[1]
Users
MLG 27 mounted on board an Elbe class replenishment ship of the German Navy
MLG 27 on board a Berlin class replenishment ship of the German Navy- Bolivian Air Force
- Top Aces Incorporated
- German Air Force
- German Navy
Specifications
Helicopter-mounted Mauser BK-27Data from Jane's Information Group[1]
- Type: single-barrel revolver cannon
- Caliber: 27 mm x 145 (1.063 in)
- Operation: revolver
- Length: 2.31 m (7 ft 7 in)
- Weight (complete): 100 kg (220 lb)
- Rate of fire: 1,700 rpm (+/- 100rpm)
- Muzzle velocity: 1,025 m/s (3,362 ft/s)
- Muzzle energy: ~136600 Joule
- Projectile weight: 260 g (9.2 oz)
See also
- ADEN cannon - Comparable British design
- DEFA cannon - Comparable French design
- M39 cannon - Comparable US design
References
- Notes
- ^ a b c d Ian, V. Hogg; Terry, J. Gander (1998). "Cannon - 20 to 30 mm cannon: 27 x 145 B ammunition (Switzerland)". Jane's Ammunition Handbook. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978071061789. http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Ammunition-Handbook/27-x-145-B-ammunition-Switzerland.html.
- ^ http://www.rheinmetall-defence.com/index.php?lang=2&fid=962
External links
Categories:- Automatic cannons
- Aircraft guns
- Modern weapons of Germany
- Rheinmetall
- 27 mm artillery
- Mauser firearms
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