The Rheinmetall Oerlikon Millennium Gun or Rheinmetall GDM-008 is a
close-in weapon system
A close-in weapon system (CIWS ) is a point-defense weapon system for detecting and destroying short-range incoming missiles and enemy aircraft which have penetrated the outer defenses, typically mounted on a naval ship. Nearly all classes of l ...
designed by
Rheinmetall Air Defence
Rheinmetall Air Defence AG is a division of German armament manufacturer Rheinmetall, created when the company's Oerlikon Contraves unit was renamed on 1 January 2009 and integrated with Rheinmetall's other air-defence products. Oerlikon Contra ...
AG (formerly known as Oerlikon Contraves) for mounting on ships. It is based on the 35/1000 revolver gun land-based
air defense
Anti-aircraft warfare (AAW) is the counter to aerial warfare and includes "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It encompasses surface-based, subsurface (Submarine#Armament, submarine-lau ...
system and uses
Advanced Hit Efficiency And Destruction (AHEAD) ammunition.
Description
A device at the muzzle end of the barrel measures the exact speed of each round as it is fired, and automatically sets the fuse to detonate the round as it approaches a pre-set distance from the target. Each round disperses 152 small
tungsten
Tungsten (also called wolfram) is a chemical element; it has symbol W and atomic number 74. It is a metal found naturally on Earth almost exclusively in compounds with other elements. It was identified as a distinct element in 1781 and first ...
projectiles weighing each to form a lethal cone-shaped cloud to strike the incoming target.
Whilst these are too small to do major damage in themselves, the accumulation of damage from multiple strikes is expected to destroy wings and control surfaces, sensors and aerodynamics, causing the target to crash. Other firing modes are designed to be effective against surface targets such as small fast attack boats.
The weapon is designed to be controlled by an external
fire-control system
A fire-control system (FCS) is a number of components working together, usually a gun data computer, a director and radar, which is designed to assist a ranged weapon system to target, track, and hit a target. It performs the same task as a hum ...
using either radar or electro-optical trackers. It is fitted with an optional onboard observation TV camera which relays imagery to an operator console from which it can also be aimed and fired in an emergency mode. The computer system uses an
open architecture
Open architecture is a type of computer architecture or software architecture intended to make adding, upgrading, and swapping components with other computers easy. For example, the IBM PC, Amiga 2000 and Apple IIe have an open architecture supp ...
and is claimed to be compatible with many existing fire control systems.
The gun's ammunition capacity allows it to engage 10
anti-ship missile
An anti-ship missile (AShM or ASM) is a guided missile that is designed for use against ships and large boats. Most anti-ship missiles are of the sea-skimming variety, and many use a combination of inertial guidance and active radar homing. ...
s or 20 surface targets.
Users
;
*
''Absalon''-class frigate
*
''Iver Huitfeldt''-class frigate
;
*
''Martadinata''-class frigate
;
*
*
Future Users
;
* The
Bulgarian Navy
The Bulgarian Navy () is the navy
A navy, naval force, military maritime fleet, war navy, or maritime force is the military branch, branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval warfare, naval and amphibious warfare; name ...
's new corvettes (MMPV 90) are planned to be armed with the Millennium gun
;
*
Type 31 frigate
The Type 31 frigate, also known as the Inspiration class, and formerly known as the Type 31e frigate or General Purpose Frigate (GPF), is a class of five frigates being built for the United Kingdom's Royal Navy, with variants also being built ...
(Planned)
*
''Raja Haji Fisabilillah'' class (Planned)
;
*
''Al Jubail''-class corvette
*
Sigma-class design
The SIGMA class is a Dutch-built family of modular naval vessels, of either corvette or frigate size, designed by Damen Group.
SIGMA stands for Ship Integrated Geometrical Modularity Approach. The basic design of the SIGMA Patrol Series can vary ...
See also
*
Rheinmetall Sea Snake 30 mm
The Rheinmetall Sea Snake 30 mm is a close-in weapon system designed by Rheinmetall Air Defence AG for mounting on ships. It is based on the KCE30 30 mm revolver cannon, and was designed by a request of the German Navy. It is capable of employ ...
*
Nächstbereichschutzsystem MANTIS
MANTIS Air Defence System (''Modular, Automatic and Network Capable Targeting and Interception System''), formerly titled NBS-C-RAM ( Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar), is a very short range air defence protection system of the German Air ...
- ground-based
C-RAM by Rheinmetall using same gun
*
Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon
The Oerlikon GDF or Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon is a towed anti-aircraft gun made by Oerlikon Contraves (renamed as ''Rheinmetall Air Defence AG'' following the merger with Rheinmetall in 2009). The system was originally designated 2 ZLA/3 ...
- earlier system using AHEAD rounds
*
Aselsan Gökdeniz
The GOKDENIZ () complex along with Aselsan ATOM 35mm airburst ammunition is an all-weather-capable Turkish 35 mm dual barrel close-in weapon system (CIWS) developed by Aselsan. It is a CIWS variant of KORKUT Self-propelled anti-aircraft gu ...
- comparable Turkish system
*
Denel 35mm Dual Purpose Gun - comparable South African CIWS
*
OSU-35K
The OSU-35K ( Polish: Okrętowy System Uzbrojenia 35 mm - 35 mm Naval Weapon System) is a Polish naval remote weapon station and a close-in weapon system manufactured by PIT-Radwar. Armed with a 35 mm Oerlikon KDA autocannon, it is mea ...
- comparable Polish system
References
External links
Rheinmetall Defence information
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oerlikon Millennium 35 Mm Naval Revolver Gun System
Oerlikon-Contraves
35
Close-in weapon systems
Autocannon
35 mm artillery
Military equipment introduced in the 2000s