Article Posted on : - Mar 22, 2016

A BAE Systems photo.

LONDON (BNS): The first production standard Cased Telescoped Cannon System has been handed over to the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD).

It is the first delivery of 515 new 40mm cannons by CTA International (CTAI) - a 50/50 joint venture company between BAE Systems and Nexter Systems.

The canon system was ordered for the British Army for use in the Ajax and Warrior vehicles.

The new cannon fires 40mm Cased Telescoped ammunition. The ammunition is neatly contained in a straight tube instead of the traditional bullet shape and can deliver a more explosive charge - up to four times the power of the 30mm rounds it replaces, BAE Systems said in a statement.

The current types of ammunition developed for the cannon include armour piercing and training rounds - while a new airburst round for engaging light vehicles and infantry spread over a large area, and a point detonating round which can penetrate thick concrete - are currently undergoing qualification.

CTAI is also working on an anti-aerial airburst round for airborne targets.

The cannon uses a new rotating breech system, with ammunition loaded at a 90 degree angle to the barrel before being rotated into firing position. Loading the ammunition sideways saves a large amount of space in the vehicle, allowing this to be used to store more ammunition or other equipment.

The handover of the first cannon follows many years of exhaustive testing and qualification, which has proved the effectiveness and reliability of the system.