MLG 27

The BK 27 (also BK27 or BK-27) (German abbreviation for ''Bordkanone'', "on-board cannon") is a 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.

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). 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.

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 Lockheed Martin was considering a licensed-built version for the F-35 Lightning II.

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. 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). 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).

Operators

Current operators

;
* Algerian Navy
;
* Austrian Air Force: Eurofighter
;
* Brazilian Air Force: Gripen
;
* Royal Brunei Navy
;
* Cameroon Air Force: Alpha Jet
;
* Discovery Air Defence Services: Alpha Jet
;
* Czech Air Force: Gripen
;
* German Air Force: Panavia Tornado, Eurofighter
* German Navy: MLG 27
;
* Hungarian Air Force: Gripen
;
* Italian Air Force: Panavia Tornado, Eurofighter
;
* Royal Saudi Air Force: Panavia Tornado, Eurofighter
;
* South African Air Force: Gripen
;
* Spanish Air Force: Eurofighter
;
* Swedish Air Force (under the designation 27 mm automatkanon m/85, ''27 mm akan m/85''): Gripen
;
* Royal Thai Air Force: Alpha Jet, Gripen
;
* United Arab Emirates Navy
;
* Royal Air Force: Eurofighter

Former operators

;
* Portuguese Air Force: Alpha Jet
;
* Royal Air Force: Panavia Tornado
* QinetiQ: Alpha Jet

Specifications

''Data from'' Jane's Information Group
* 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

* ADEN cannon – comparable British design
* DEFA cannon – comparable French design
* R-23 cannon – comparable Russian design
* M39 cannon – comparable US design
* Oerlikon KBA - comparable Swiss design

References

;Notes

External links

Website of ''Rheinmetall Defence''

Marineleichtgeschütz MLG 27
(Website from constructor)





RAF page on BK 27

{{Rheinmetall

Autocannon
Aircraft guns
Cold War weapons of Germany
BK-27
27 mm artillery
Mauser firearms
Military equipment introduced in the 1970s