GIAT 30

GIAT 30M 791
GIAT 30M 791 cannon for the Dassault Rafale fighter
Type	Automatic cannon
Place of origin	France
Service history
In service	1980s-present
Used by	France
Specifications
Weight	120 kg (260 lb)
Length	2.4 m (7 ft 10 in)
Shell	30 × 113mm B (M 781), 30 x 150mm B (M 791)
Barrels	1
Action	Seven-chamber revolver
Rate of fire	2,500 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	1,025 m/s (3,360 ft/s)

The GIAT 30 is a series of 30 mm cannon developed to replace the DEFA 550 series weapons on French military aircraft.

Introduced in the late 1980s, the GIAT 30 is a revolver cannon with electric ignition and automatic recocking. Unlike the DEFA cannon, the revolver chamber is electrically operated, rather than gas operated, improving both reliability and rate of fire.

Two versions of the GIAT 30 are offered.

Primarily intended for helicopter use and offered in several fixed, podded, and turreted installations. It is 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) long with a total system weight of 65 kg (143 lb). It is designed to fire the ADEN/DEFA 30x113mm B rounds. The weight of the projectile varies from 244 g (8.6 oz) for HEI to 270 g (9.5 oz) for APHEI-SD. Typical muzzle velocity is 810 m/s (2,700 ft/s) with a rate of fire of 750 rounds per minute.

Given its considerable recoil, it is typically used for single shots or controlled bursts rather than continuous fire. The 30 M781 is used on the Eurocopter Tiger and is also offered for naval use as part of the NARWHAL (NAval Remote Weapon High Accuracy and Light) system.

Ammunition：HEI; SAPHEI; APHEI-SD; API-T; TP.

Intended for fighter aircraft such as the Dassault Rafale. It uses a new range of 30x150mm B ammunition in a variety of types. It has a muzzle velocity of 1,025 m/s (3,360 ft/s). A selectable rate of fire allows cyclic rates of 300, 600, 1500, or 2500 rounds per minute. It can fire continuous bursts or controlled 0.5 or 1 second bursts.