Ground anti-aircraft missile-gun complex Pantsir, intended for the UAE army
The article provides an overview of the current state of affairs on the market for 20-57 mm cannons, corresponding ammunition and gun mounts
The advent of guided munitions played a decisive role in reducing the dominance of automatic cannons in service since World War II, but the development of new ammunition and even types of weapons will allow these guns to remain in service for a long time.
In particular, there are four main tasks where guns can still compete (mainly with regard to economic efficiency and partially combat capabilities) with missiles:
1) short-range defense (both ground and naval) against attacks by aircraft and guided missiles, as well as the fight against missiles, artillery shells and mortar ammunition of the enemy;
2) fire support and armor-piercing effects when installed on armored combat vehicles;
3) the fight against small sea targets;
4) and bombardment of the ground from low level flight.
Close air defense
Cannons still have advantages in last-tier defenses, since their minimum range is practically zero and they have a high rate of fire and relatively inexpensive ammunition, while their high-speed projectiles reach the target in a minimum time. In order to really use these advantages, modern guns, as a rule, are installed in complex gun mounts with a fire control system (FCS) capable of automatically detecting, tracking and capturing a target with minimal or no human involvement in the case of anti-missile systems.
There are two approaches to this problem: the first (20-30 mm caliber systems) uses cannons with an extremely high rate of fire, which in shipborne versions, as a rule, fire bursts of armor-piercing sub-caliber projectiles (BPS) with a tungsten core. In the case of a ground-based complex for intercepting missiles, artillery shells and mortar ammunition, shots that do not hit the target can fly away for several kilometers, creating an unacceptably high risk of indirect losses, therefore, instead of BPS, self-destructing shells with a high-explosive warhead are used here.
The first (and today the most common) in this class is the Raytheon Phalanx MK15 CIWS complex (close-in weapon system - a short-range self-defense complex), known as Centurion in the C-RAM configuration (interception of unguided missiles, artillery shells and mines). The gun component of this complex is the General Dynamics M61 cannon with a rotating block of six barrels. This externally powered cannon, firing 20x102 mm ammunition, appeared in the 50s of the last century. The newest version of Block 1B has heavier and longer barrels in order to use the maximum capabilities of the new MK244 Mod 0 ELC (Enhanced Lethality Cartridge) armor-piercing ammunition at sea, increasing combat effectiveness in the fight against small ships and helicopters, as well as more traditional for such complexes purposes.
The Centurion complex fires the M940 MP-T-SD universal ammunition manufactured by GD-OTS, which is a semi-armor-piercing high-explosive incendiary projectile that self-destructs after a high-explosive warhead is burned out by a tracer. Nammo has completed the conceptual study of an alternative C-RAM projectile with a self-destruct, which is a combination of a small high-explosive charge with a tungsten core, designed to destroy an attacking 155-mm artillery projectile.
The other only western system that has found its customers is the much larger Goalkeeper complex from Thales Nederland, based on the seven-barreled rotating GD-OTS GAU-8 / A cannon, firing 30x173 mm MPDS (missile-piercing discarding sabot) ammunition. pallet), which was adopted on a much smaller scale.
The section of the AHEAD projectile and the fuse installer bolted to the muzzle
The Russian industry has developed several anti-aircraft missile systems, one of which - the massive 3M87 Kortik / Kashtan developed by KBP - combines two 30-mm GSh-6-30P cannons with a rotating block of six barrels and eight 9M311 guided missiles in order to provide a two-level defense in one installation, which reflects the flexible concept adopted for such ground-based air defense systems as, for example, Tunguska and Pantsir.
In China, Russian systems are mainly adopted, but local systems have also been developed there, for example, the Type 730B ship mount. It resembles the Goalkeeper complex, its seven-barreled cannon is most likely based on the GAU-8 / A, but at the same time it has a standard Russian caliber of 30x165 mm. Also available is a variant designated LD2000, mounted on a self-propelled chassis.
The latest Chinese development, which has been torn away the veil of secrecy, is the formidable 11-barreled version of this cannon in naval execution, installed on the Varyag-class aircraft carrier Liaoning. The declared rate of fire of the gun is 10,000 rounds per minute.
Another approach to air defense cannon defense is the use of guns of a larger caliber of 35 mm or more, firing projectiles that detonate close to the target due to a remote or temporary detonator. The capabilities of these systems vary greatly, only the most sophisticated and advanced are capable of hitting attack missiles.
A typical short-range air defense system that implements a similar approach is the Millennium complex from the Rheinmetall Waffe Munition (RWM) company, based on a 35-mm four-chamber Oerlikon KDG revolving cannon firing AHEAD (Advanced Hit Efficiency And Destruction) ammunition with a rate of fire of 1000 rounds / min. The complex is in service in sea and land versions, including the C-RAM variant under the designation MANTIS, adopted by Germany.
The AHEAD ammunition remote fuse is programmed in the fuse installer when the projectile leaves the muzzle in such a way as to detonate right in front of the target and eject a "canister charge" from l52 tungsten submunitions in the form of balls weighing 3, 3 grams, which form a cloud with a diameter of 7 meters at a distance 40 meters from the point of detonation.
Without taking into account the many weapons systems existing around the world, which are still in use, at present, for anti-aircraft missions, mainly weapons of 35 mm and 40 mm calibers are proposed, the latter being the recently shown shipborne installation Bofors Mk 4. China is deploying two air defense systems using unique ammunition: Type 76 37x240 mm ship mount and PG87 towed twin mount, firing 25x183B mm ammunition; four of these 25 mm cannons are also installed on the PGZ95 self-propelled tracked platform.
The practical value of the existing air defense systems of 25-35 mm caliber was increased through the development of a thin-walled armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile that has a number of advantages over traditional high-explosive ammunition. This sub-caliber projectile has significantly improved ballistic characteristics, having a longer range of actual fire and a higher hit probability at all ranges. The projectile differs from the usual armor-piercing sub-caliber round in that tungsten breaks into fragments after impact, having an effect comparable to being hit by a high-explosive fragmentation projectile. An additional advantage is that against lightly armored vehicles, it has almost the same effectiveness as an armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile, which turns it into a dual-use projectile and, at the same time, it is safer to handle compared to the high-explosive fragmentation type.
An unusual development in the field of cannon air defense systems can be attributed to the new RAPIDFire complex from the French company Thales. A turret is installed on a self-propelled ground chassis, in which six Starstreak short-range guided missiles and a 40-mm CTAS (Cased Telescoped Armament System) cannon are installed, which fires telescopic projectiles with a remote fuse, which are known as AAAB or A3B (anti-aerial air-burst - against air targets, air blast). Perhaps the choice of the CTAS gun system for air defense is somewhat surprising, since it has a relatively low rate of fire of 200 rounds per minute. But it is designed to deal mainly with helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (the secondary task is the fight against ground targets), since missiles will help in the fight against faster targets.
Mounted on a self-propelled chassis of the Thales RAPIDFire air defense system with a 40-mm 40 CTAS cannon
Presentation of the RAPIDFire anti-aircraft system at the Paris air show with Russian subtitles
Armament of armored combat vehicles
As for armored combat vehicles (AFVs), the cycle "armor - armor-piercing weapons" forces the military to turn to more and more powerful guns and therefore what has traditionally been the unofficial standard NATO caliber - 25x137 mm ammunition fired from Oerlikon KBA, ATK M242 Bushmaster cannons and the Nexter 25M811 - is now being gradually replaced by the 30x173mm caliber used in the Mauser MK 30 and ATK Bushmaster II / MK44 series guns.
Some armies have gone even further: the Danish and Dutch armies have opted for the CV9035 BMP from BAE Systems, armed with the ATK 35x228 mm Oerlikon Bushmaster III cannon, while the British army is ready to install the 40x255 mm CTAS 40 telescopic ammunition system from CTA International in its new reconnaissance vehicle. Scout SV and upgraded Warrior infantry fighting vehicles. The next candidate for the installation of this system is the EBRC vehicle of the French army.
The CTAS cannon system is unique in that it uses a telescopic ammunition, in which the projectile is completely hidden inside a cylindrical sleeve, as well as a mechanism with a swivel chamber (it rises coaxially with the barrel when each projectile is fired, but then turns sideways in such a way that the next shell, and the spent cartridge case is thrown in the other direction). The use of a transverse loading mechanism made it possible to obtain an extremely compact gun and feed mechanism. When installed in the turret, they take up less space compared to the traditional 40mm L / 70 Bofors cannon, variants of which are installed in the Swedish CV90 vehicle and the new South Korean K21 tank.
ATK worked (initially with the GD-OTS, and now independently) on a 40x180 mm version of the 30x173 mm ammunition. It is known as the Super 40 and has the same cylindrical volume. It requires replacement of the barrel and certain adjustments to the feed and recoil mechanisms of the XM813 cannon, which is a modified version of the MK44 Bushmaster II. The new ammunition has an approximately 60% increase in the mass of the high-explosive fragmentation warhead in comparison with the high-explosive fragmentation warhead of a 30 mm caliber projectile, plus a slight improvement in armor-piercing characteristics; but at this time no orders have been received for it.
Russia rearmed some of its light tanks PT-76, installing on them a new AU-220M turret with an S-60 cannon from the 1950s, but in a variant of 57x347СР mm caliber. This weapon was also proposed for the commercial French-Russian project on the Atom 8x8 infantry fighting vehicle, presented to the public in October 2013.
The well-proven feathered armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile remains the preferred ammunition for fighting armored vehicles of the enemy. It was constantly being improved, but most of all was the ammunition designed to increase the combat effectiveness in the fight against enemy infantry. As an example of one approach, we can cite the modernized 35-mm version of the Oerlikon AHEAD / KETF (with ready-made submunitions and a remote fuse), which has a larger number of the same ready-made submunitions that are used in the 30-mm version. An example of a different approach is also an air blast munition with a remote fuse, known as HEAB (high-explosive air burst) or PABM (programmable air burst munition). Unlike AHEAD, it has a larger volume of explosive surrounded by a significantly larger number of smaller ready-made submunitions (GGE).
Instead of detonating close to the target, where most of the GGE is mainly flying forward (although the fragmentation KETF has been modified to give a wider spread of the GGE), the HEAB detonates directly above the target and releases most of its fragments radially at a 90 ° angle to the trajectory, increasing the likelihood of hitting personnel hiding in shelters or trenches.
On the other hand, the KETF shoots forward more GGE with a much more concentrated impact on the target, which requires a less accurate detonation time. Nevertheless, although several customers were found on AHEAD, HEAB, apparently, attracted more interest: the first "swallow" of 30x173 mm appeared in the form of the MK310 Mod 0 PABM-T projectile, but variants of 25x137 mm were also being developed.
For several decades, Russian light armored combat vehicles have been armed with two 30-mm cannons of 30x165 mm caliber: the 2A42 operating gas exhaust and the 2A72 recoil force. These guns are less powerful compared to Western caliber 30x173 mm. They fire surprisingly conservative ammunition, which was originally conventional high-explosive fragmentation projectiles with a nose fuse and full-caliber armor-piercing projectiles, although later the tungsten-core armor-piercing sub-caliber ammunition was introduced. To date, the feathered armor-piercing sub-caliber round has not entered service with the Russian army, but the need for ammunition with better characteristics is very large, since there are quite a few users of these guns all over the world.
Nammo has partnered with the Bulgarian Arcus (produces a range of 30x165 mm ammunition) and the explosives manufacturer Nitrochemie Wimmis to meet the needs of Finland. This can include universal projectiles with a self-liquidator (semi-armor-piercing high-explosive incendiary tracer), training tracer, feathered armor-piercing sub-caliber with a tracer and armor-piercing sub-caliber. Apparently, the outdated APPS was included in this list because the 2A72 cannon needs to fire heavy rounds to obtain sufficient recoil power for the cannon's mechanism to work, and the feathered APPS with a tracer is too light for this. Another problem is that the 2A42 cannon is quite "indelicate" in handling ammunition and they have to withstand it. This type of ammunition is currently being tested.
As an alternative to guns with increasing firepower, ATK offers its M230LF chain-driven cannon in 30x113B mm caliber. It is a variant of the medium-speed cannon mounted on the AH-64 Apache helicopter. It has a longer barrel and belt feed and is designed to fire with HEAT rather than AP shells, but since this cannon is much lighter than guns (also ATK) in 25 mm and 30 mm calibers with a high muzzle velocity, it needs lighter support (carriage).
At the Eurosatory 2014 exhibition, the M230LF cannon installed in the Lemur remote-controlled weapon station from BAE Systems was shown and at the AUSA exhibition in October 2014 in the Flyer light vehicle.
BMP CV9035 Mk III of the Dutch army with a 35-mm automatic cannon Bushmaster III from ATK Armament Systems
Rheinmetall sub-caliber ammunition 30x173 mm. From top to bottom: PMC 307 Peel-off Tracer Training; tracer feathered armor-piercing sabot projectile PMC 287; thin-walled armor-piercing tracer with a detachable pallet PMC 283
Surface targets
Combat operations in coastal areas and areas with low intensity of warfare, especially in dangerous locations or hostile ports, have contributed to a revival of interest in the light naval gun. A manifestation of such interest can be seen in the modernization of short-range complexes, for example, as part of the Phalanx 1B program, infrared guidance was implemented and the capabilities of the complex were improved in the fight against hovering helicopters and small boats, or in the installation of specially designed weapon systems with less rapid-fire 20-30 mm cannons, as a rule, equipped with optical-electronic sights and are increasingly controlled remotely.
As for the latest systems, the Rafael Typhoon remotely controlled weapon system, adopted by several countries, has become especially successful here. Like other similar installations, it can accept a wide range of 20-30mm cannons, although the ATK M242 Bushmaster 25mm cannon is usually chosen for it. This is exactly what the US Navy did, which adopted the Typhoon MK3 8 Mod 2 to replace the 25mm MK38 Mod 1, which had the same cannon, but manual drives.
In a similar scenario, the British Navy's manual DS30B, created back in the 1980s, is being replaced by a remotely controlled unit from the MSI Seahawk line, designated DS30M Mk2 ASCG (Autonomous Small-Caliber Gun). In it, the Oerlikon KCB 30x170 mm cannon was replaced by the ATK MK44 30x173 mm cannon. It is interesting here that the rate of fire of the original weapons of 600-650 rounds / min, which, when used with modern sights, gave the installation some anti-aircraft potential, fell to the typical rate of fire of the family of chain-driven guns of 200 rounds / min, indicating that the emphasis has definitely shifted to direction of dealing with much slower targets.
Perhaps the most unusual choice was made by the German navy, which opted for the MLG 27 from Rheinmetall to replace the manual 20mm and 40mm mounts. MLG looks like other stabilized combat modules, but at the same time is very different, since it has a 27-mm BK 27 aviation revolving cannon with a rate of fire of 1700 rounds / min, which gives the installation a really good potential, although, according to the manufacturer's statement, optoelectronics and FCS are only effective against surface targets and helicopters within a radius of 2.5 km (up to 4 km against larger surface targets).
Ammunition range ATK 30x173 mm
Ammunition line Nammo 30x173 mm
The main types of ammunition used for these guns are mostly standard, high-explosive fragmentation incendiary with a head fuse or the universal semi-armor-piercing high-explosive incendiary from Nammo, but again the difference between the MLG 27 installation is that it shoots mainly the thin-walled armor-piercing subcaliber DM63.
The MK258 Mod 1 "Swimmer" feathered armor-piercing sabot tracer was developed by Nammo in close collaboration with the US Navy. This new type of ammunition was adopted for the MK46 gun complex (a remotely controlled installation armed with a 30mm MK44 cannon), which was installed on the LPD-17 San Antonio class landing craft and the new US Navy coastal defense ship. It differs from the traditional MK258 Mod 0 in that the projectile has a supercavitating nose, which, when fired into the water, creates an air bubble around the projectile, which significantly reduces hydrodynamic drag; Nammo calls it a "hydroballistic" ammunition.
Cannon projectiles, as a rule, when entering the water quickly lose accuracy and almost immediately stop, however, the Swimmer feathered projectile weighing 150 grams, fired at a speed of 1430 m / s, after passing 25 meters in the water has a speed of 1030 m / s. Initially, it was developed for the already canceled program of the Navy RAMICS (Rapid Airborne Mine Clearance System - high-speed airborne demining system), according to which the MK44 cannon installed on a helicopter would shoot into the water column in order to sink and detonate sea mines at depths of up to 60 meters. Currently, it has proven its usefulness in connection with its ability to pierce hulls below the waterline or even shoot through waves that obscure small boats.
Larger naval cannons provide more versatility as they are effective against larger ships, in addition, they can even provide some fire support to the coastline, as well as perform limited anti-aircraft missions. At the lower end of this category, you can put the 40-mm Bofors cannon, while its older brother with a caliber of 57 mm is used on coastal defense ships and other types of ships of the American fleet.
Russia responded with a modern version of its 57mm naval cannon, created back in the 1950s, this time by placing it in the A-220 gun mount. It is intended for ships of various projects and is still to appear in service. According to some reports, the development of the Russian 57-mm projectile, which was reported several years ago, has not yet begun.
Aircraft armament
Although the Air Force periodically lost its love for guns, most pilots recognize their usefulness and many have settled on 30mm as the optimal caliber, with the exception of a few European NATO members using the Mauser BK 27 revolving cannon with 27x145B mm ammunition (standard for Tornado, Typhoon and Gripen), and American fighter operators, which still carry a 20x102 mm M61 cannon with a rotating unit of six barrels, although currently firing more modern ammunition.
The US Marine Corps uses the GAU-12 / U 25mm five-barreled cannon in its AV-8B Harrier II attack aircraft, but 25x137mm ammunition should be more widely used in aviation as it is also fired by the new GAU cannon. -22 / A (lightweight GAU-12 / U with four barrels), chosen for the F-35 Lightning II fighters. This gun will only be installed inside the F-35A of the US Air Force, and will be optionally available in a detachable turret for the F-35B STOVL (short take off and vertical landing) and F-35C variants intended for the US Navy.
There are two restrictions on the choice of ammunition for an aircraft cannon. First, aircraft, as a rule, cannot use sub-caliber ammunition due to the risk of pieces of the thrown pallet hitting the aircraft or getting into the engine. Second, the volume restrictions do not allow the installation of a dual power system, that is, the aircraft needs a single universal type of ammunition.
At Eurosatory 2014, a remotely controlled Cockerill CPWS 30 turret was presented, armed with a 30-mm ZTM-1 cannon (Ukrainian version based on the 2A72 cannon)
Russia in this area, apparently, is an exception, since it still uses the traditional combination of high-explosive fragmentation, high-explosive fragmentation tracer and armor-piercing projectiles with a head fuse, tucked into a projectile belt. In the NATO Air Force, they were replaced by more advanced types, mainly the universal type base without a fuse from the Nammo company, a typical example here is the American PGU-28A / B cannon in 20x102 mm caliber. France is unique in that it counts on a new version of the traditional ammunition with a SAPHEI bottom fuse (semi-armor-piercing high-explosive incendiary), which can be fired by the well-proven Nexter 550 series cannon (30x113B mm ammunition) and the 30M791 revolving cannon mounted on the unique 30x150 caliber Rafale fighter mm).
Two other types of ammunition have made some progress in recent years: Rheinmetall's FAP (Frangible Armor Piercing) with a tungsten alloy core that fragment after impact; Diehl's PELE (Penetrator with Enhanced Lateral Effect), which uses a combination of a thick outer steel hull and a light inner core, after being struck, fragments of the steel hull are thrown at high speed in all directions. Both types of shells can be equipped with submunitions to enhance fragmentation. This ammo is effective against a variety of target types; available in calibers 20x102 mm and 27x145B mm. Both ammunition has inert projectiles, which simplifies the requirements for their transportation and handling.
An interesting three-way rivalry is currently underway for the supply of 25x137 mm ammunition for the F-35 fighter.
The American Arms Research Center ARDEC, together with the GD-OTS company, is developing a non-energy fragmentation projectile (NEF) based on the previous PGU-20 / U round with a depleted uranium core, placed inside a steel case. PGU-20 (NEF) is fundamentally different in that its uranium core is replaced by a fragmented tungsten alloy core. Its tests have been completed and qualification is underway.
RWM developed a 25mm version of the FAP projectile qualified for the US Air Force, and General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products developed a version under the American designation PGU-48 / B for firing from an F-35A cannon.
Nammo has created a new APEX projectile, which, unlike the other two contenders, has a high-explosive fragmentation component with a fuse in combination with a tungsten alloy punch in the nose. The development was funded by the Norwegian Defense Organization in order to meet the requirements of the Norwegian Air Force. This is the only projectile to receive the American designation PGU-47 / U, which is planned to be certified for all three variants of the F-35.
In the case of the F-35A, development is funded on an equal basis between Norway and Austria in cooperation with the US Air Force, with flight tests scheduled for 2015-2016. In the case of the F-35B and F-35C, the US Navy will conduct qualifications followed by certification in 2017.
The problem with all aircraft munitions is that they are designed to detonate or fragment after penetrating the outer envelope inside an aircraft or ground vehicle, so they tend to be delayed. However, in recent years, fighter cannons were mainly used to fire at enemy manpower, when the shells burrow into the ground until the moment of detonation or fragmentation, which significantly reduced their combat effectiveness.
The Russians drew attention to this problem decades ago, proposing an ammunition that is basically similar to the Oerlikon KETF ammunition with ready-made submunitions, except that its delayed action fuse is programmed in advance, and not in the installer on the muzzle, therefore it is necessary to open and stop fire in a certain range of distances. Although the munition is being promoted as a means of destroying parked aircraft and similar targets, it is no less effective in anti-personnel missions than air detonation ammunition such as KETF or PABM, of course, subject to the adaptation of the FCS for firing from an aircraft. In the fight against infantry, you can also use a proximity fuse. In this regard, within the framework of the ARDEC program for the development of a single fuse technology, a proximity fuse for 30x113B mm ammunition for the Apache helicopter gun was tested, which could increase the effectiveness in the fight against enemy personnel. If successful, this technology could be implemented in ammunition intended for a fighter's cannon, but it is unlikely that this would be advisable for such a small caliber as 20 mm.
Finally, the 25mm GAU-12 / U and 40mm L / 60 Bofors installed on the American AC-130 gunship (gunship) were replaced by the 30mm GAU-23 cannon (modernized ATK MK44) firing mainly developed by ATK high-explosive fragmentation projectile PGU-46 / B with a head fuse and low aerodynamic resistance. The new development - the "light gunship" AC-235 - is armed with a lighter and less powerful ATK M2 30LF cannon.
In light of the current development and the obvious combat capabilities that cannons offer, they are likely to hold back the onslaught of missile technology for the foreseeable future.
Drawings of the Swimmer 30-mm "hydroballistic" projectile
