Type Autocannon In service Mid 1970's – present Designer Oerlikon Contraves AG | Used by See operators | |
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) | ||
The Oerlikon KBA is a 25 mm (25×137mm) cannon was developed as a close range weapon for the mechanized battlefield originally made by Oerlikon Contraves AG (renamed as Rheinmetall Air Defence AG following the merger with Rheinmetall in 2009).
Contents
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.
Description
The Oerlikon Contraves 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 175 rds/min; and full automatic fire of 600 rds/ min. The cannon functions, such as cocking and firing, are electrically actuated by remote control from the gunner's control box and 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.
Ammunition
A wide range of ammunition has been developed for this weapon specifically developed to engage and defeat both ground and air targets. The ammunition complies with all handling and operational safety requirements according to MIL-STD’s, and was subjected to intensive trials by NATO member countries prior to its introduction and standardization as NATO 25mmx137 ammunition.
The current 25mm ammunition family consists of 6 prime war-shot and 2 training rounds: