Mauser BK-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).

Operational history

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. 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."

Operators

Current operators

;
: Algerian Navy
;
: Austrian Air Force:
;
:Brazilian Air Force:
:* Saab JAS 39 Gripen E/F
;
: Royal Brunei Navy
:* 4 × with 1 × each
:* 4 × ''Ijtihad'' class with 1 × each
;
: Discovery Air Defence Services:
:* Alpha Jet A (former Luftwaffe and QinetiQ Aircraft)
;
: Czech Air Force:
:* Saab JAS 39 Gripen C/D
;
: German Air force:
:* Eurofighter Tranche 1
:* Eurofighter Tranche 2
:* Eurofighter Tranche 3
:* Eurofighter Tranche 4
:* Eurofighter ECR
:* Panavia Tornado IDS
:* Panavia Tornado ECR
:German Navy:
:* 4 × (F123) with 2 × each
:* 3 × (F124) with 2 × each
:* 4 × (F125) with 2 × each
:* 6 × ''Niedersachsen'' class (F126) with 2 × each
:* 10 × (K130) with 2 × each
:* 2 × (Type 352) to be upgraded with 2 × each
:* 8 × (Type 322) to be upgraded with 1 × each
:* 3 × with 4 × each
:* 2 × (Type 404) to be upgraded with 2 × each
;
: Hungarian Air Force:
:* Saab JAS 39 Gripen C/D
;
: Italian Air force:
:* Eurofighter Tranche 1
:* Eurofighter Tranche 2
:* Eurofighter Tranche 3
:* Eurofighter Tranche 4
:* Panavia Tornado IDS
:* Panavia Tornado ECR
;
: Royal Air Force of Oman:
:* Eurofighter Tranche 3
;
: Qatar Emiri Air Force:
:* Eurofighter Tranche 3
;
: Royal Saudi Air Force:
:* Eurofighter Tranche 2
:* Eurofighter Tranche 3
:* Panavia Tornado IDS
;
:South African Air Force:
:* Saab JAS 39 Gripen C/D
;
: Spanish Air Force:
:* Eurofighter Tranche 1
:* Eurofighter Tranche 2
:* Eurofighter Tranche 3
:* Eurofighter Tranche 4
;
: Swedish Air Force (under the designation ''27 mm akan m/85'' / 27 mm automatkanon m/85)
:* Saab JAS 39 Gripen C/D and E/F
;
:Royal Thai Air Force:
:* Alpha Jet A (former Luftwaffe aircraft)
:* Saab JAS 39 Gripen C/D
;
: United Arab Emirates Navy:
:* 6 × ''Baynunah'' class with 2 × each
;
:Royal Air Force:
:* Eurofighter Tranche 1
:* Eurofighter Tranche 2
:* Eurofighter Tranche 3

Systems retired

;
:Royal Australian Air Force:
:* Alpha Jet A (former Luftwaffe aircraft, retired)
;
: German Air Force:
:* Alpha Jet A (retired and sold second-hand)
: Marineflieger:
:* Panavia Tornado IDS (retired and transferred to Luftwaffe)
:German Navy:
:* 8 × (F122) with 2 × each
;
: Portuguese Air Force:
:* Alpha Jet A (former Luftwaffe aircraft, retired in January 2018)
;
: Royal Saudi Air Force:
:* Panavia Tornado ADV (retired in 2006)
;
: Swedish Air Force:
:* Saab JAS 39 Gripen A/B
;
:Royal Air Force:
:* Panavia Tornado IDS
:* Panavia Tornado ADV
: QinetiQ:
:* Alpha Jet A (former Luftwaffe aircraft, retired in January 2018)

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

* 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

;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