Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH and Oerlikon Contraves Pyrotec at EURONAVAL 2004
25 October 2004
As branch of the Rheinmetall DeTec's Weapon Munition business unit, the Medium Calibre business segment is the centre of excellence for automatic cannons, weapon systems and munitions in the medium calibre range.
Main products of the medium calibre business segment are aircraft cannons, naval systems, vehicle-based weapon systems including their munitions, and air defence ammunition
The conflicts of the future will not be wars between states. The threats are rogue nations, warlords, terrorist groups and organized crime with religious, ideological and/or economic motivation. The potential enemies of western industrialized nations will use asymmetric warfare. The fight against emerging asymmetric threats requires innovative operative concepts and missionised equipment.
Already at this stage, the medium calibre business segment offers core technologies for effective counterterrorism systems.
MLG 27 Sea-Based Counterterrorism
Major threat of ships and boats are highly agile speed boats and aircraft. Worldwide, the Light Naval Gun System MLG 27 is the first counterterrorism system for ships and boats. With the MLG 27 the German Navy has introduced a highly effective weapon system against teSeries production started in 2003 for the installation on following vessels:
Frigates 122, 123, 124, Corvette 130, MHC 332/333, MHCD 352, AOR 702 and ARL 404.
In December 2003 the first three MLG 27 systems where delivered to the German Navy Weapon School for training purposes. Installation of four MLG 27 systems onboard AOR Berlin took place in July 2004. In total 13 sets will be in service by end of 2004.
Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH, Branch Mauser Oberndorf will built a total of 83 sets for the German Navy over the next seven years, to supply German Navy's ships and crews with optimum protection. The pioneering MLG 27 is set to become the German Navy's standard medium-calibre gun, and will replace all 20mm and 40mm systems on existing ships and as armament for new units like the K130 corvette.
Extended range and heavy penetrating power, combined with a high hit probability, are assured by FAPDS (Frangible Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot) ammunition. The 27 mm x 145 FAPDS round was especially designed for the MLG 27. Special characteristic is a short time of flight at a lower trajectory, which allows engagement of a higher number of targets at greater distances, in the same time.
The FAPDS sub-calibre ammunition relies solely on kinetic energy, with no need for additional explosives or fuses, making it insensitive and safe during storage transport and handling.
rrorist attacks.
The remotely operated, stabilized and autonomous MLG 27 features an electro-optical sensor package on mount with an integrated fire control unit.
Combined with the FAPDS ammunition it is ideally suited for deployment on surface combatants and support vessels operating close to coasts and ports in uncertain environments.
Worldwide, there is still no product that comes close.
It allows high-precision fire day and night against lightly armed, highly agile targets in low-intensity, asymmetric environments. This means it is ideal for use in peacekeeping and anti-terrorist operations alike. Terrorist attacks, with devastating implications for personnel and materiel can now be prevented, thanks to the MLG 27.
