MLG 27 new light naval gun for new missions

Mauser-Werke Oberndorf Waffensysteme GmbH, a Rheinmetall DeTec subsidiary, is developing the MLG 27 light naval gun, designed to engage air, surface, and land targets for the German Navy.

In response to the large variety of deployment scenarios for the navy, for instance as part of crisis reaction forces, as security escort in evacuation missions as well as conventional naval escort duties Mauser believes its new MLG 27mm light naval gun will prove a winner.

Based on the 27 mm (BK 27) aircraft gun fitted to the MRCA Tornado and in the Swedish Gripen fighter aircraft and also to be used on the Eurofighter, the weapon is designed to be employed against air targets up to a range of 2,500 meters, against small highly mobile naval targets out to 2,500 meters and as far as 4,000 meters against larger surface units. The engagement of mobile and fixed land-based pinpoint targets is possible out to 4,000 meters. These targets include lightly armoured vehicles, hard and partially hardened positions as well as area targets engaged with a newly developed type of ammunition.

The gun has been designed both for new ships as well as for upgrading existing units or to replace existing 20 mm and 40 mm guns. The system can be mounted on all units without requiring penetration of the deck.

The MLG 27 has a high-speed drive system, a high rate of fire of 1,700 rounds per minute as well as a 90-round ammunition supply on the gun. The gun is coupled to an effective fire control system from STN Atlas Elektronik. The thermal imager sensors, the TV camera, laser range finder and automatic target tracking system with a proven video tracker ensure rapid and reliable target acquisition, tracking and engagement. Target tracking, fire control computation as well as gun control are done from a remote operator console.

The gun can be connected to higher-level sensors to pick up target data (angle and range). Growth potential exists to integrate the MLG27 into higher-level C3I systems.

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