Oerlikon KBA
| Oerlikon KBA 25 mm | |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Place of origin |
 Switzerland
|
| Service history | |
| In service | Mid 1970's – present |
| Used by | See operators |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Oerlikon Contraves AG |
| Manufacturer |
Rheinmetall Italia S.p.A; Ford Motor Company (designated KBA-B02 under license agreement with Oerlikon and TRW Inc. as a competitor to Hughes' Bushmaster) |
| No. built | 10,500+ |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 112 kilograms (247 lb) |
| Barrel length | • Overall: 2,888 mm (113.7 in) |
| Width | 263 mm (10.4 in) |
| Height | 253 mm (10.0 in) |
|
|
|
| Shell | NATO 25×137mm |
| Caliber | 25 mm |
| Barrels | Single barrel |
| Rate of fire |
• Nominal: 600 rounds/min • Maximum: 700 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 1,335 metres per second (4,380 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 3,020 metres (9,910 ft) |
| Maximum firing range | 6,850 metres (22,470 ft) |
• Nominal: 600 rounds/min
The Oerlikon KBA is a 25 mm (25×137mm) cannon was developed as a close range weapon for the mechanized battlefield originally made by Oerlikon Contraves AG (renamed as Rheinmetall Air Defence AG following the merger with Rheinmetall in 2009).
The Oerlikon KBA is a gas operated selective fire weapon taking a 25 mm cartridge from a dual selective belt feed and firing at a rate of 600 rounds per minute, it has been developed as a close-range multipurpose weapon for the modern battlefield.
Due to its firepower, various types of ammunition and its Instant Ammunition Selection Device (IASD), the KBA can engage lightly armoured vehicles, infantry and antitank positions, helicopters, combat aircraft and ships.
The Oerlikon KBA 25 mm cannon is a fully automatic, positively locked, gas-operated weapon with a rotating bolt head and double belt feed. These features guarantee high reliability and safety, even under the most extreme environmental conditions.
The KBA offers a wide range of firing modes: single shot; programmable rapid single shot with a rate of fire of up to 200 rds/min; and full automatic fire of 600 rds/ min. The cannon functions, such as cocking and firing, are electrically actuated by remote control unit or in auxiliary mode mechanically by a hand crank and a trigger pedal.
The Oerlikon KBA 25mm cannon has been designed for integration in various types of mounts, small size and low weight offer various integration possibilities such as:
The various types of available ammunition combined with the unique Instant Ammunition Selection Device (IASD) and different selectable firing modes with a rate of fire up to 600rds/min support any type of operational use.
In 1964 the American company TRW Inc. was entrusted with the development of a 25 mm weapon while Oerlikon-Buehrle Machine Tool Works assumed responsibility for developing the ammunition and interior ballistics for it.
Both were intended to meet the requirements for the armament of infantry fighting vehicles of the 80's and 90's like:
Three years later, at the beginning of 1967, technical tests and firing trials were carried out with the first two American prototype (recoil operated) cannons (TRW-6425) at Oerlikon-Buehrle Machine Tool Works followed by the first demonstrations for another NATO country.
In the trials, however, the American prototypes displayed a number of basic functional deficiencies. This persuaded Oerlikon-Buehrle Machine Tool Works to undertake their own development work to effect system modifications, which then resulted in the required functional reliability and enabled the trials to be completed successfully. (1970, 10 gas-operated cannons). When the first prototype cannons became available, suitable gun turrets had also to be provided. In 1967 an agreement was signed between Machine Tool Works Oerlikon-Buehrle and a well-known and established sub-contractor, to collaborate in the development and manufacture of 25 mm gun turrets. These gun turrets were in the first instance to be suitable for mounting on armoured personnel carrier M 113 C&R of a NATO country's army. The complete system, cannon, hand-driven turret and ammunition underwent detailed firing trials between 1969 and 1971. Special new development efforts were devoted to improve functional reliability, durability and firing precision, and in 1971 sufficient progress had been made for the weapon system to fulfil the strict specifications laid down, and to be delivered to the Netherlands.
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Wikipedia