GIAT 30

GIAT 30
DEFA 791 cannon for the Dassault Rafale fighter GIAT 791 cannon for the Dassault Rafale fighter
Type	Automatic cannon
Place of origin	France
Service history
In service	1980s-present
Used by	France
Specifications
Weight	120 kg
Length	2.4 m
Shell	30x150mm
Action	Seven-chamber revolver
Rate of fire	2500 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	1025 m/s

The GIAT 30 is a series of 30 mm cannon developed to replace the DEFA 550 series weapons on French military aircraft.

Introduced in the late 1980s, the GIAT 30 is a revolver cannon with electric ignition and automatic recocking. Unlike the DEFA cannon, the revolver chamber is electrically operated, rather than gas operated, improving both reliability and rate of fire.

Two versions of the GIAT 30 are offered:

• The GIAT 30 M781 is primarily intended for helicopter use and offered in several fixed, podded, and turreted installations. It is 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) long and weighing 65 kg (143 lb) complete. It is designed to fire the same 30 mm ammunition as the DEFA, with projectile weights varying from 244 g (8.6 oz) for HEI to 270 g (9.5 oz) for APHEI-SD. Typical muzzle velocity is 1,025 m/s (3,360 ft/s) with a rate of fire of 750 rounds per minute. Given its considerable recoil, it is typically used for single shots or controlled bursts rather than continuous fire. The 30 M781 is presently used on the Eurocopter Tiger, and is also offered for naval use as part of the NARWHAL (NAval Remote Weapon High Accurate and Light) system.

• The GIAT 30 M791 is intended for fighter aircraft such as the Dassault Rafale. It has a selectable rate of fire allowing cyclic rates of 300, 600, 1,500, or 2,500 rounds per minute. It can fire continuous bursts or controlled 0.5 or 1 second bursts. It uses a new range of 30x150 mm ammunition in a variety of types.

• Nexter THL-30 p1220834.jpg

  THL-30 Turret (Eurocopter Tiger)

See also

• Rheinmetall RMK30
• Mauser BK-27