GIAT 30
| Industry | Defense |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1970s or 1980s |
| Products | Firearms, military equipment, including the GIAT 30 cannon family |
The GIAT 30 family of 30 mm cannons was created to succeed the DEFA 550 series used on French military aircraft. Launched in the late 1980s by GIAT Industries, this revolver cannon utilizes electric ignition alongside automatic recocking. Unlike the gas-driven DEFA model, its electrically powered revolving chamber improves both firing reliability and rate.
Two distinct models exist:
GIAT 30M 781
Primarily engineered for helicopter use, the 30M 781 is available in fixed mounts, pods, and turreted forms. It measures in length and weighs , firing ADEN/DEFA 30×113mm B ammunition. Projectile weights vary from (HEI) up to (APHEI-SD), with a muzzle velocity reaching , and a firing rate of 750 rounds per minute.
Due to its substantial recoil, this cannon is best suited for single shots or short bursts rather than prolonged firing. The 30M 781 is installed on platforms such as the Eurocopter Tiger and naval systems including the NARWHAL (NAval Remote Weapon High Accuracy and Light).
Available ammunition types encompass HEI, SAPHEI, APHEI-SD, API-T, and TP.
GIAT 30M 791
Tailored for fighter aircraft like the Dassault Rafale, the GIAT 30M 791 fires 30×150mm B rounds in multiple variants. It delivers a muzzle velocity of , producing over of muzzle energy solely from the projectile mass. This cannon supports selectable cyclic rates of 300, 600, 1500, or 2500 rounds per minute and can fire continuous or controlled bursts lasting either 0.5 or 1 second.
Eurocopter Tiger
The GIAT 30M781 is employed by operators of the Tiger helicopter including:
Rafale
Operators deploying Rafale fighters equipped with the GIAT 30M791 include:
Rafale
Prospective users of the Rafale armed with this cannon are:
- – With a previous agreement for acquiring 80 Rafale F4 jets
See also
- VENOM LR 30 mm – British evolution of ADEN, using a 113mm variant
- Oerlikon KCA – Swiss origin, length of 173mm
- VENOM 30 mm – British model measuring 173mm
- DEFA cannon – Earlier French design with a length of 113mm
- ADEN cannon – Older British model, measuring 111mm
- Mauser BK-27 – German design chambered in 27×145mm
- R-23 cannon – Russian telescoped design firing 23×260mm rounds
- M39 cannon – Historic US design using 20×102mm ammunition
References