The ADEN cannon (Armament Development ENfield) is a British autocannon that was designed by the Armament Development Establishment and produced by the Royal Ordnance Factory Nottingham and AEI Systems.[1] The ADEN cannon was the main armament in many British combat aircraft until the late 1970s to early 1980s.
History[]
After World War II it was decided by the Royal Air Force to adopt a 30mm gun to replace the older 20mm guns, which were felt inadequate against modern jet aircraft. The design of this new gun was a joint undertaking between the Armament Research Establishment in Kent and the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield. It was named the ADEN gun after these firms. The ADEN cannon was initially developed as a replacement for the Hispano-Suiza HS.404 cannon, which was the standard armament for British fighter aircraft at the time.
The ADEN was considered to be an improvement over the HS.404, as it was lighter, more reliable, and had a higher rate of fire. Production of the ADEN began in the early 1950s at the Royal Ordnance Factory in Nottingham, and the gun was first used on the Hawker Hunter in 1954. The ADEN cannon was first used by the RAF during the Aden Emergency in the late 1950s, It was also used during the Indonesian Confrontation in the early 1960s, and later saw service during the Vietnam War. It would be used as the main armament on many British combat aircraft until the Panavia Tornado. Current production of the ADEN is managed by AEI Systems.[1]
Design[]
The ADEN is a single-barreled, gas-operated cannon with a revolving cylinder. The basic design is derived from the German MG 213 by Mauser, up-scaled for the 30×113mm shell. The gun uses a rotating cylinder containing five chambers located behind the fixed barrel. When the rotating chamber comes in line with the breech, a shell is extracted from a disintegrating link belt and rammed from the lined-up chamber, whereupon the chamber rotates to allow the next shell to be rammed into the next chamber. This rotation is continuous and when a loaded chamber rotates in line with the barrel, whereupon the round is electronically fired off and exits the barrel. A special steel sleeve is fitted to the interior of the barrel to ensure that no excess gas escapes.
The cannon can be mounted in various positions on aircraft; mounting of the gun is said to be possible at most angles on the longitudinal axis. The weapon may be fed from the left or right hand side and has a rate of fire of 1200 to 1400 rounds per minute.[2] Various instructional models of the ADEN were also produced, with an electric motor used to drive the cylinder.[3]
One of the key advantages of the ADEN cannon was its reliability. It was able to function effectively in a wide range of conditions, including high altitude and extreme temperatures. This made it a popular choice for fighter aircraft, as it was able to provide a consistent level of firepower regardless of the environment.
See also[]
- M39 cannon, American revolving cannon of similar design
- DEFA cannon, French revolving cannon of similar design
- Mauser BK-27, German revolving cannon of similar operation
- Mauser MG 213, Nazi German revolving cannon of similar operation