Military Aircraft Systems

Aircraft Guns

Objective:

To identify the different types of Aircraft Guns in service with the Royal Air Force

Aircraft Guns

Contents:

•Mauser Cannon•M134 Minigun•M60D Machine Gun

Mauser Cannon

Mauser Cannon

27mm Single-Barrelled Cannon

• Typhoon FGR4• Tornado GR4• Tornado F3 (Retired 2011)

Mauser Cannon

Mauser Cannon

• The Mauser 27mm cannon is a single-barrelled, high performance, breech cylinder gun operated by an electrically fired gas-operated system at a selective rate of 1000 or 1700 rounds per minute.

• Targeting of the cannon is via a gun-sight in the aircraft’s head-up display. In the case of the Typhoon this can be slaved to the air-to-air radar to provide a predictor gun-sight for air combat.

• The cannon has a very high muzzle velocity and its high rate of fire, coupled with its ability to fire several types of high-explosive shells, make it equally suitable for both fighter aircraft and ground-attack aircraft.

M134 Minigun

M134 Minigun

7.62mm Air-Cooled, Multi-Barrelled, Rotary Machine Gun

• Chinook HC2• Chinook HC3• Merlin HC3

M134 Minigun

M134 Minigun

• The M134 Minigun is a 7.62mm air-cooled, multi-barrelled rotary gun, which is mounted on either the Chinook or Merlin helicopter.

• The gun is electrically driven from the aircraft’s 115V AC supply and is mounted on either the port or starboard side of the aircraft in the escape hatch or the cabin door respectively.

• The gun is fired manually, using belt-fed ammunition at up to 4000 rounds per minute.

M60D Machine Gun

M60D Machine Gun

7.62mm Gas Operated Machine Gun

• Chinook HC2• Chinook HC3• Merlin HC3• Puma HC1

M60D Machine Gun

• The M60D machine gun is a 7.62mm calibre gas operated machine gun that can be mounted on the Chinook, Merlin or Puma helicopters.

• The weapon can be mounted and fired from either side of the cabin, or from the aircraft’s rear ramp.

• The gun is attached to a mount fixed to the aircraft that permits it to swivel freely between mechanical stops, which prevents damage to the aircraft during firing.

• The gun is fired manually at up to 550 rounds per minute.

Questions?