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40CTC | |
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![]() 40CTC of a British Ajax armoured fighting vehicle | |
Type | Cased telescoped autocannon |
Place of origin | ![]() ![]() |
Service history | |
In service | 2022–present |
Used by | British Army French Armed Forces |
Production history | |
Designer | CTA International |
Designed | 1997–2022 |
Manufacturer | CTA International |
Specifications | |
Mass | 340 kg (750 lb) |
Length | 3,428 mm (11 ft 3.0 in) |
Barrel length | 2,800 mm (110 in) |
Cartridge | 40×255 mm |
Caliber | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
Action | Recoil-operated, rotating breech |
Rate of fire | 200 rpm |
Effective firing range | 2,500 m (8,200 ft) (4,000 m (13,000 ft) for the Thales RapidFire naval CIWS) |
Maximum firing range | 8,500 m (27,900 ft) [1] |
Feed system | Automatic Ammunition Handling System (AHS) |
The 40CTC (40 mm Cased Telescoped Cannon) is a 40 mm autocannon and the central component of the Franco-British 40CTAS (40 mm Cased Telescoped Armament System) developed by CTA International. It is designed to fire 40mm telescoped ammunition. [2] This format provides significant benefit within vehicles in the space envelope required for the gun and the ammunition storage. [3] However, the selection of the unfielded, thus unproven, new design for major French and British programmes was controversial. [4] [5]
The 40CTAS has been ordered by the French Army for use on its future EBRC Jaguar armoured reconnaissance vehicle. The latter entered service in February 2022. It has also been mandated for the UK Ajax (formerly FRES SV) and (cancelled) Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme (WCSP) programmes.
In February 2010, CTA International signed a £11m contract with the French and British defence ministries to qualify the 40CT; this included environmental testing and the firing of 15,000 rounds. [6] The company has confirmed that the ammunition for the British weapons will be assembled by BAE Systems at the ROF Glascoed facility. [7]
The 40CTAS consists of the following modules:
The Naval RapidFire is a naval platform based on the 40CTC. Intended as close-in defense capability for surface vessels against air and land threats, it can fire the A3B round. [9] The A3B rounds releases 660 grams (23 oz) of tungsten pellets that form a cloud of sub-projectiles in front of a target. The suggested method for aerial engagements is to fire at 80 rounds per minute, shooting a 4-round burst at 4,000 m (13,000 ft), then waiting a few seconds for damage assessment before firing another burst. [10] The RapidFire was selected for integration on the 4 Bâtiment ravitailleur de forces (BRF) of the French Navy as well as the upcoming class of 10 Patrouilleurs Hauturiers (PH) offshore patrol vessels. The first system was installed on the lead ship of the BRF, FS Jacques Chevallier, in February 2023. [11]
It is the land-based variant of the RapidFire and is meant for integration on military vehicles. [9] The turret can store between 70 and 140 rounds, with additional rounds stored in the turret structure's compartment. Rate of fire is 200 rpm with a range against aerial and surface targets of 4,000 and 2,500 metres (13,100 and 8,200 ft) respectively. The truck-based RapidFire can be mounted on a 6×6 and 8×8 chassis, the latter of which is able to de-mount the system onto the ground for it to operate independently. [12] [13]
The 40CTAS's proprietary 40 mm telescoped ammunition is manufactured for various applications, including anti-infantry and anti-materiel. The variants differ in weight, effective range, and payload depending on the intended target.
Type | Projectile weight (g)/(oz) | Muzzle velocity (m/s)/(ft/s) | Penetration | Effective range (m)/(ft) | Targets | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
APFSDS-T Armour Piercing Fin Stabilised Discarding Sabot - Tracer | 550 grams (19 oz) [1] | 1,500 m/s (4,900 ft/s) [1] | 140 mm (5.5 in) RHA at 1,500 m (4,900 ft) [1] | 2,500 m (8,200 ft) [1] | Medium armoured vehicles [1] | |
GPR-T General Purpose Round - Tracer | 980 grams (35 oz) | 1,000 m/s (3,300 ft/s) | 210 mm (8.3 in) concrete or 15 mm (0.59 in) RHA at 1,000 m (3,300 ft) | <8,500 m (27,900 ft) | Infantry, light armoured vehicles, defensive fortifications | Available as point detonating (GPE-PD-T) or airburst munition (GPE-AB-T) AB version can spread fragments over a 125 m² area [10] |
A3B-T Anti Aerial Airburst - Tracer | 1,400 grams (49 oz) | 900 m/s (3,000 ft/s) | - | 4,000 m (13,000 ft) | Unmanned aerial vehicles, light aircraft, helicopters | |
TP-T Target Practice - Tracer | 980 grams (35 oz) | 1,000 m/s (3,300 ft/s) | - | 8,500 m (27,900 ft) | - | |
TPRR-T Target Practice Reduced Range - Tracer | 730 grams (26 oz) | 1,000 m/s (3,300 ft/s) | - | 6,500 m (21,300 ft) | - | Reduced range variant of TP-T |