DEFA (cannon)

DEFA 554

The GIAT DEFA 550 is a series of popular French revolver cannons .

Model variants

DEFA 551 (Canon 30 M 550 F1)

The original DEFA 551 was developed in the late 1940s. It was based on the German Mauser MG 213 , a projected revolver cannon for aircraft. Ten prototypes of the MG 213 were built and fell into the hands of Allied troops shortly before or after the end of the war. Mauser's headquarters were in Oberndorf am Neckar ; the area was occupied by Western Allies. The MG 213 became the basis for the DEFA, the almost identical British ADEN and the somewhat smaller American M39 cannon .

DEFA 552 (Canon 30 M 550 F2A / F2B)

Production began as DEFA 552 in 1954.

DEFA 553 (Canon 30 M 550 F3)

In 1968 an improved version was developed with the cannon 550-F3 , which went into production from 1971 as DEFA 553 . In the new version, a new ammunition feeder, a hardened barrel, a forged drum housing and an electric ignition were introduced. The DEFA 553 is a gas pressure-operated five - chamber revolver cannon with a pyrotechnic cartridge for loading the cannon and electrical ignition. The weapon fires various types of ammunition in 30 mm caliber in continuous fire as well as in 0.5 or 1 second bursts.

DEFA 554 (Canon 30 M 550 F4)

The 553 was replaced by the DEFA 554 , which brought a number of detail changes. The DEFA 554 uses three instead of two drum chambers for loading, which increases the cadence . The service life of the tube as well as the reliability were improved and an electrical control unit was installed, which allows the pilot to set two rates of fire: 1800 rounds per minute for aerial combat and 1200 rounds for ground attacks. The 554 still contained three instead of one pyrotechnic cartridge, with which the pilot can cock the weapon at take-off and still has two cartridges left for the flight. Such cartridges are necessary if the weapon should lock up due to a misfire and to remove the defective cartridge by reloading.

The DEFA 550 series was the standard gun in all equipped with on-board weapons French fighter aircraft from 1954 until the introduction of the Dassault Rafale further in 2000. Of the weapon was CASA , Dassault Aviation and Matra in weapons containers installed.

The ammunition of the DEFA and the ADEN is identical.

In the Rafale , the DEFA 550 was replaced by the GIAT 30 series M791, even if the DEFA will be widespread for many years to come.