Mauser BK-27

Mauser BK-27. The Mauser BK-27 is a revolver cannon developed in the 1970s by the German armament manufacturer Mauser, now part of Rheinmetall. It fires a powerful 27×145mm cartridge and is distinguished by its high rate of fire and exceptional reliability, making it a primary armament for several modern European combat aircraft. The weapon has seen extensive service with the Luftwaffe and other NATO air forces, and remains in production and active development.

Development and history

The development of the BK-27 was initiated by Mauser in the early 1970s to meet a requirement for a new-generation aircraft cannon for the Panavia Tornado multirole combat aircraft, a major program involving Germany, the United Kingdom, and Italy. The design sought to improve upon the capabilities of earlier cannons like the M61 Vulcan and the DEFA 550 series by offering a higher muzzle velocity and greater projectile mass. Following successful testing, the weapon entered production in 1979. The subsequent merger of Mauser's defense division into Rheinmetall in the late 1990s transferred production and further development to the larger conglomerate, ensuring the cannon's evolution for platforms like the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Design and features

The BK-27 employs a five-chamber revolver cannon mechanism, where the entire barrel cluster rotates to align each chamber with a single barrel, a principle also used in the earlier BK-37 model. This design allows for a very high rate of fire of approximately 1,700 rounds per minute while maintaining mechanical reliability and reduced barrel wear compared to Gatling-type systems. It uses a potent 27×145mm cartridge, significantly larger than the 20mm rounds of the M61 Vulcan or 30mm rounds of the ADEN cannon, providing a formidable mix of explosive and armor-piercing capability. The cannon is typically integrated with a linkless ammunition feed system to enhance reliability and is designed for low recoil forces, making it suitable for installation in lightweight fighter aircraft structures.

Operational use

The BK-27 entered service as the standard internal cannon for the Panavia Tornado IDS and ADV variants operated by the German Air Force, the Royal Air Force, and the Italian Air Force. Its most prominent modern application is as the integral gun for the Eurofighter Typhoon, serving with the air forces of nations including Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and Saudi Arabia. The cannon has also been adopted for the Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet light attack aircraft and is used in naval applications, such as the Mauser MLG 27 remote-controlled naval gun system deployed on vessels of the German Navy. It has seen combat use in various conflicts involving these aircraft, such as during the Kosovo War and operations over Afghanistan.

Variants

The primary aviation variant is the standard **BK-27**, configured for internal mounting in aircraft like the Panavia Tornado and Eurofighter Typhoon. A dedicated export model, sometimes designated for the Saab JAS 39 Gripen, features adaptations for different aircraft interfaces. The most significant derivative is the **MLG 27** (Marineleichtgeschütz 27), a stabilized, remote-controlled naval mounting developed for Rheinmetall for point defense against surface and aerial threats, deployed on Sachsen-class frigates and Braunschweig-class corvettes. A lighter training variant with a reduced rate of fire has also been produced for ground instructional purposes.

Specifications

* **Type:** Revolver cannon * **Caliber:** 27×145mm * **Operation:** Five-chamber revolver mechanism * **Weight:** 100 kg (220 lb) * **Length:** 2.31 m (7 ft 7 in) * **Barrel Length:** 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) * **Muzzle Velocity:** 1,100 m/s (3,600 ft/s) * **Rate of Fire:** 1,700 rounds per minute * **Feed System:** Linkless * **Projectile Types:** High-Explosive Incendiary (HEI), Armor-Piercing Incendiary (API), Target Practice (TP)

Category:27 mm artillery Category:Aircraft guns of Germany Category:Revolver cannons