Mauser BK-27

Mauser BK-27
The Mauser BK-27
TypeRevolver cannon
Place of originGermany
Service history
Used bySee operators
Production history
DesignerMauser (now Rheinmetall)
Designed1976
ManufacturerMauser (now Rheinmetall)
Produced1977–present
No. built3,100~
Specifications
Mass100 kg (220 lb 7 oz)
Length2.31 m (7 ft 7 in)
Barrel length1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Shell27×145 mm
Caliber27 mm (1.063 in) caliber
BarrelsSingle barrel
Actionfive-chamber revolver
Rate of fire1,000–1,700 rpm (+/− 100 rpm), selectable
Muzzle velocity1,100 m/s (3,600 ft/s)[1]
Maximum firing rangeAir targets: 2,500 meters

Surface targets: 4,000 meters

High speed naval targets: 2,500 meters

The BK 27 (also BK27 or BK-27) (German abbreviation for Bordkanone, "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.[2]

The BK 27 is a gas-operated cannon firing a series of 27×145 mm cartridges with a typical projectile weight of 260 g (9.2 oz), and a total weight for the complete round of 516 g (1.14 lb).[1] Most models use a linked feed system for the ammunition; however, the Eurofighter Typhoon makes use of a specially developed variant of the BK 27 that uses a linkless feed system instead, which is intended to improve reliability.[2]

Design

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The Mauser BK 27 is used in the Panavia Tornado, the Alpha Jet, the JAS 39 Gripen, and the Eurofighter Typhoon. At one time Lockheed Martin was considering a licensed-built version for the F-35 Lightning II.[3]

Rheinmetall has also developed remote-controlled naval versions, the MN 27 GS and the MLG 27 fully automatic naval guns, which are installed on many ships of the German Navy. Ninety-nine MLG 27s have been ordered by the German Navy so far.[4] 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(+/− 100 rpm).[2] The Mauser BK 27 utilizes pyrotechnic cocking charges to cycle the action.

The gun mainly fires mine shells as these have the best effect against aircraft, there are also several types of armor piercing shells like the frangible armour piercing shell named Fap 27 mm x 145 mm ammunition/peb327 (DM103).[citation needed]

Operational history

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In his book Typhoon, former RAF pilot Mike Sutton reported his 27 mm cannon jamming during a strafing run in Syria, against ISIS targets, while supporting Allied ground units. According to his book, the Typhoon was to be built, originally, without an internal gun, like the F-4 Phantom and the Harrier jump jet. However, while a decision was made to install an internal gun, this led to "manufacturing issues". Sutton claimed that during his strafing run the gun jammed after "twenty-six rounds", the HUD showing "GUN FAIL". During the debrief this problem was well known to both the pilots and ground crews. One pilot told Sutton: "They said that issue had been fixed", to which Sutton replied "Exactly. We've been here before."[5]

Operators

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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
Map with operators of the BK-27 in blue and former operators in red

Current operators

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 Algeria
 Austria
 Brazil
 Brunei
 Cameroon
 Canada
 Czech Republic
 Germany
 Hungary
 Italy
 Saudi Arabia
 South Africa
 Spain
 Sweden
  • Swedish Air Force (under the designation 27 mm automatkanon m/85, 27 mm akan m/85): Gripen
 Thailand
 United Arab Emirates
 United Kingdom

Former operators

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 Portugal
 United Kingdom

Specifications

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Helicopter-mounted Mauser BK-27

Data from Jane's Information Group[2]

  • Type: single-barrel, five chamber revolver cannon
  • Caliber: 27 mm × 145 (1.063 in)
  • Operation: revolver
  • Length: 2.31 m (7 ft 7 in)
  • Weight (complete): 100 kg (220 lb)
  • Rate of fire: 1,000-1,700 rpm selectable (+/− 100 rpm)
  • Muzzle velocity: 1,100 m/s (3,600 ft/s)
  • Muzzle energy: ≈157,300 Joules
  • Projectile weight: 260 g (9.2 oz)

See also

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  • Oerlikon KCA - comparable Swiss design: 30×173mm NATO
  • GIAT 30 - comparable French design: 30×150mm and 30×113mm
  • VENOM LR 30 mm – comparable British design, 21st century 113mm-long derivative of ADEN
  • DEFA cannon - comparable older French design: 30×113mm
  • ADEN cannon – comparable older British design: 30×111mm
  • R-23 cannon – comparable Russian design: 23mm×260mm (telescoped)
  • M39 cannon – comparable US design: 20×102mm

References

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Notes
  1. ^ a b "Germany 27 mm/145 MLG 27 - NavWeaps". navweaps.com. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  2. ^ 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 9780710617897.
  3. ^ Lopez, Ramon (14 April 1999). "Lockheed Martin favours German cannon for JSF". Flight International. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Rheinmetall AG - 01.12.2003: Marineleichtgeschütz MLG 27 jetzt in der Auslieferung – Neuer Standard für die Deutsche Marine". Archived from the original on 4 December 2007. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
  5. ^ Typhoon, Mike Sutton and Clifford Thurlow, Penguin (20 September 2022), ISBN 9781405950381, pp 324-326, 330
  6. ^ "Algerian National Navy, Algeria Naval forces, القوات البحرية الجزائرية, naval defence industry, navy technology, frigates, corvettes, submarines, systems". Navyrecognition.com. 25 July 2012. Archived from the original on 6 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  7. ^ "Saab Presents First Gripen E to Brazil". Saab. 10 September 2019.
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