Mauser BK-27

Mauser BK-27
Mauser BK-27
	The Mauser BK-27
Type	Revolver cannon
Place of origin	Germany
Service history
Used by	See operators
Production history
Designer	Mauser (now Rheinmetall)
Designed	1976
Manufacturer	Mauser (now Rheinmetall)
Produced	1977–present
No. built	3,100~
Specifications
Mass	100 kg (220 lb 7 oz)
Length	2.31 m (7 ft 7 in)
Barrel length	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Shell	27×145 mm
Caliber	27 mm (1.063 in) caliber
Barrels	Single barrel
Action	five-chamber revolver
Rate of fire	1,000–1,700 rpm (+/− 100 rpm), selectable
Muzzle velocity	1,100 m/s (3,600 ft/s)
Maximum firing range	Air targets: 2,500 meters Surface targets: 4,000 meters High speed naval targets: 2,500 meters

The BK 27 (also BK27 or BK-27) (German abbreviation for Bordkanone, "on-board cannon") is a 27 mm (1.063 in) 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.^[2]

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).^[1] 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.^[2]

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.^[3]

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.^[4] 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).^[2] 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).^{[citation needed]}

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 jump jet. 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."^[5]