Rheinmetall Oerlikon Millennium Gun

Short description: Type of close-in weapon system

Rheinmetall Oerlikon Millennium Gun

Oerlikon Millennium 35mm Naval Revolver Gun System aboard the HDMS Absalon (F341)

Type| CIWS
Place of origin| Switzerland
Service history
In service| 2003–present
Used by| Danish Navy
Venezuelan Navy
Indonesian Navy
Production history
Designed| 1995
Manufacturer| Rheinmetall Air Defence, Oerlikon Contraves
Specifications
Mass| Gun: 450 kg
Installation: 3300 kg
Length| 5.5 m
Width| 2.39 m
Height| 1.94 m
Crew| unmanned

* * *

Shell| 35×228mm
Calibre| 35 mm
Barrels| Singular
Action| Gas-operated four-chamber revolver cannon[1]
Elevation| -15 / +85 degrees
rate: 70 degree/s
Traverse| 360 degrees
rate: 120 degrees per second
Rate of fire| Single shot
Rapid Single Shot: 200 rounds per minute
Burst (automatic fire): 1000 rounds per minute
Muzzle velocity| AHEAD: 1,050 m/s (3,400 ft/s)
HEI: 1,175 m/s (3,850 ft/s)
APDS/T: 1,440 m/s (4,700 ft/s)
Effective firing range| 3,500–5,000 m (3,800–5,500 yd)[2]
Feed system| 252 linkless rounds in installation

The Rheinmetall Oerlikon Millennium Gun or Rheinmetall GDM-008 is a close-in weapon system designed by Rheinmetall Air Defence AG (formerly known as Oerlikon Contraves) for mounting on ships. It is based on the 35/1000 revolver gun land-based air defense system and uses Advanced Hit Efficiency And Destruction (AHEAD) ammunition.

## Contents

* 1 Description
* 2 Users
* 2.1 Future Users
* 3 See also
* 4 References
* 5 External links

## Description

A device at the muzzle end of the barrel measures the exact speed of each round as it is fired, and automatically sets the fuse to detonate the round as it approaches a pre-set distance from the target. Each round disperses 152 small tungsten projectiles[3][4] weighing 3.3 grams (0.12 oz) each to form a lethal cone-shaped cloud to strike the incoming target.[2] Whilst these are too small to do major damage in themselves, the accumulation of damage from multiple strikes is expected to destroy wings and control surfaces, sensors and aerodynamics, causing the target to crash. Other firing modes are designed to be effective against surface targets such as small fast attack boats.

The weapon is designed to be controlled by an external fire-control system using either radar or electro-optical trackers. It is fitted with an optional onboard observation TV camera which relays imagery to an operator console from which it can also be aimed and fired in an emergency mode. The computer system uses an open architecture and is claimed to be compatible with many existing fire control systems.

The gun's ammunition capacity allows it to engage 10 anti-ship missiles or 20 surface targets.[2]

## Users

Denmark

* Absalon-class frigate
* Iver Huitfeldt-class frigate

Indonesia

* Martadinata-class frigate

Venezuela

* Guaiquerí-class patrol boat
* Guaicamacuto-class patrol boat

### Future Users

Bulgaria

* The Bulgarian Navy's new corvettes (MMPV 90) are planned to be armed with the Millennium gun

Indonesia

* Type 31 frigate (Planned)
* OPV 90M (Planned)

Saudi Arabia

* Al Jubail-class corvette

Colombia

* Sigma-class design[5][6]

## See also

* Nächstbereichschutzsystem MANTIS ground-based C-RAM by Rheinmetall using same gun
* Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon earlier system using AHEAD rounds
* Aselsan GOKDENIZ—comparable Turkish system
* Denel 35mm Dual Purpose Gun comparable South African CIWS

## References

1. ↑ The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapons Systems, 1997-1998 - Norman Friedman
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 CIWS: The Last Ditch Defense
3. ↑ The 35mm Rheinmetall Oerlikon Millennium Gun 27 May 2015
4. ↑ "Rheinmetall Defence". http://www.rheinmetall-defence.com/index.php?fid=5122&qid=&qpage=0&lang=3&query=millennium gun.
5. ↑ "Colombian Navy awards contract to COTECMAR for first PES frigate, ocean patrol vessel, and logistic support ship" (in en). https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/colombian-navy-awards-contract-to-cotecmar-for-first-pes-frigate-ocean-patrol-vessel-and-logistic-support-ship.
6. ↑ Webinfomil (2022-09-23). "Colombia eligió los buques SIGMA 10514 de DAMEN como sus nuevas fragatas multimisión que serán construidas en Cotecmar". https://www.webinfomil.com/2022/09/colombia-eligio-los-buques-sigma-10514-damen.html.

## External links

* Rheinmetall Defence information

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