GIAT 30

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.

GIAT 30M 781
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.

GIAT 30M 791
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), which amounts to a muzzle energy of more than 94,000 ft-lb from the mass of the projectile alone (not taking into account explosive chemical energy). 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.